ES-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.

ES-5:2 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.

ES-5:3 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.

ES-5:4 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.

ES-5:5 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.

ES-5:6 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.

ES-5:7 Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my

request [is];

ES-5:8 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.

ES-5:9 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.

ES-5:10 Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came

home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.

ES-5:11 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.

ES-5:12 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.

ES-5:13 Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see

Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.

ES-5:14 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.

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