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.

On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the royal or inner court of the king’s palace opposite his. The king was sitting on his throne, facing the main entrance of the palace.

2 A nd it was so, when the king saw Esther, the queen, standing in the court, that she had grace 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.

And when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight, and he held out to the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther drew near and touched the tip of the scepter.

3 T hen the king said unto her, What wilt thou, Queen Esther? And what is thy request? It shall be given thee, even to the half of the kingdom.

Then the king said to her, What will you have, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of the kingdom.

4 A nd Esther answered, If it seems good to the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him.

And Esther said, If it seems good to the king, let the king and Haman come this day to the dinner that I have prepared for the king.

5 T hen the king said, Cause Haman to make haste that he may do as Esther has said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

Then the king said, Cause Haman to come quickly, that what Esther has said may be done.

6 A nd the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? And it shall be granted thee. What is thy request? Even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.

So the king and Haman came to the dinner that Esther had prepared.

7 T hen answered Esther and said, My petition and my request is:

And during the serving of wine, the king said to Esther, What is your petition? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of the kingdom, it shall be performed.

8 I f I have found grace in the sight of the king and if it pleases 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 tomorrow as the king has commanded.

Then Esther said, My petition and my request is: If I have found favor in the sight of the king and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the dinner that I shall prepare for them; and I will do tomorrow as the king has said.

9 ¶ Then Haman went forth that day joyful and with a glad heart, but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate and that he did not stand up nor move for him, he was filled with indignation against Mordecai.

Haman went away that day joyful and elated in heart. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate refusing to stand up or show fear before him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai.

10 N evertheless, Haman refrained himself, and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends and Zeresh, his wife.

Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. There he sent and called for his friends and Zeresh his wife.

11 A nd Haman told them of the glory of his riches and the multitude of his sons and all the things in which the king had promoted him and how he had advanced him above the princes and slaves of the king.

And Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, the abundance of his sons, all the things in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.

12 H aman said, moreover, Even Esther, the queen, let no one come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself, and tomorrow I am also invited by her with the king.

Haman added, Yes, and today Queen Esther did not let any man come with the king to the dinner she had prepared but myself; and tomorrow also I am invited by her together with the king.

13 Y et all this avails me nothing so long as I see Mordecai, the Jew, sitting at the king’s gate.

Yet all this benefits me nothing as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.

14 T hen said Zeresh, his wife, and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made fifty cubits high, and tomorrow speak unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged upon it; then go in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman, and he caused the gallows to be made.

Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, Let a gallows be made, fifty cubits high, and in the morning speak to the king, that Mordecai may be hanged on it; then you go in merrily with the king to the dinner. And the thing pleased Haman, and he caused the gallows to be made.