EstherChapter 5

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¹On the third day, Esther put on her royal robes. She stood in the inner court of the palace, across from the king's hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the throne room. He was facing the door. ²The king saw Queen Esther standing in the court. Right away he was pleased with her. He held out the gold scepter in his hand toward Esther. So she came near and touched the tip of the scepter. ³The king asked her, "What is it, Queen Esther? What do you want? I will give it to you, even up to half of my kingdom." ⁴Esther answered, "If it pleases the king, may the king and Haman come today to the feast I have made for the king." ⁵"Hurry and bring Haman," the king ordered. "Then we can do what Esther has asked." So the king and Haman went to the feast Esther had made. ⁶While they were drinking wine, the king said to Esther, "What do you wish for? It will be given to you. What do you want? I will do it, even up to half of my kingdom." ⁷Esther answered, "This is my wish and my request: ⁸If I have found favor with the king, and if it pleases the king to give me my wish and do what I ask, may the king and Haman come tomorrow to the feast I will make for them. Then I will answer the king's question." ⁹That day Haman went out happy and glad in his heart. But he saw Mordecai at the king's gate. Mordecai did not stand up for him or shake with fear in front of him. So Haman was filled with rage at Mordecai. ¹⁰But Haman held himself back and went home. He called for his friends and his wife Zeresh. ¹¹Haman bragged to them about how very rich he was. He told them about his many sons. He told them all the ways the king had honored him. He told how the king had raised him above the other officials and servants. ¹²"And there's more," Haman said. "Queen Esther asked no one but me to come with the king to the feast she made. And she asked me to come back tomorrow with the king. ¹³But none of this makes me happy as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate." ¹⁴His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, "Have a pole set up that is 75 feet high. In the morning, ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then go with the king to the feast and enjoy yourself." Haman liked this idea, so he had the pole set up.a