Esther 5
5 1Now 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 entrance of the house.
2And it was so, when the king saw
Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favor 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.
3Then said the king
unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be
given thee even to the half of the kingdom.
4And Esther said, If it seem
good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet
that I have prepared for him.
5Then the king said, Cause Haman to make
haste, that it may be done as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to
the banquet that Esther had prepared.
6And 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.
7Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is:
8if 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 shall prepare for them, and I will do to-morrow as the king
hath said.
9Then went Haman forth that day joyful and glad of heart: but
when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood not up nor moved
for him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai.
10Nevertheless Haman
refrained himself, and went home; and he sent and fetched his friends and
Zeresh his wife.
11And Haman recounted unto them 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.
12Haman 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 also am I invited by her together with the king.
13Yet all this
availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's
gate.
14Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a
gallows be made fifty cubits high, and in the morning 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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