| Chapter 5
|
| 1 | Now it came
to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in
the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the
king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the
house. |
| 2 | And it was so,
when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained
favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that
was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre. |
| 3 | Then said the king unto
her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even
given thee to the half of the kingdom. |
| 4 | And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let
the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for
him. |
| 5 | Then the king
said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. So the
king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared. |
| 6 | And the king said unto Esther at the
banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what
is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed. |
| 7 | Then answered Esther, and said,
My petition and my request is; |
| 8
| If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the
king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman
come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to morrow as
the king hath said. |
| 9 |
Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw
Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was
full of indignation against Mordecai. |
| 10 | Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came
home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife. |
| 11 | And Haman told them of the glory of
his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the
king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and
servants of the king. |
| 12 |
Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king
unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to morrow am I invited
unto her also with the king. |
| 13
| Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew
sitting at the king's gate. |
| 14
| Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows
be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that
Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the
banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made. |
