1 N ow on the third day, Esther put on her royal clothing, and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, next to the king’s house. The king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, next to the entrance 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 W hen the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight; and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther came near, and touched the top of the scepter.

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 asked her, “What would you like, queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you 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 E sther said, “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, “Bring Haman quickly, so that it may be done 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 T he king said to Esther at the banquet of wine, “What is your petition? It shall be granted you. What is your 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 Esther answered and said, “My petition and my request is this.

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 favor 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 will prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as the king has said.”

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 T hen Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart, but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he didn’t stand up nor move for him, he was filled with wrath 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 restrained himself, and went home. There, 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 H aman recounted to them the glory of his riches, the multitude of his children, all the things in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants 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 also said, “Yes, Esther the queen let no man come in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and tomorrow I am also invited by her together 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 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 about hanging Mordecai on it. Then go in merrily with the king to the banquet.” This pleased Haman, so he had the gallows 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.