1 It came to pass on the third day, when she had ceased praying, that she put on her glorious apparel, and she stood before the king. He was sitting on his royal throne in the royal house, across from the gate of the house.
2 And when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she received favor in his sight. And the king held out to Esther the golden scepter in his hand. And Esther drew near and touched the tip of the scepter.
3 The king said, "What do you desire, Esther? What is your request? Ask even to the half of my kingdom, and it shall be yours."
4 Esther said, "Today is a special day. So if it seems good to the king, let both him and Haman come to the feast which I will prepare this day."
5 The king said, "Hurry and bring Haman here, that we may do as Esther said." So they both came to the feast about which Esther had spoken.
6 At the banquet, the king said to Esther, "What is your request, queen Esther? You shall have all that you require."
7 She said, "My request and my petition are:
8 if I have found favor in the king's sight, let the king and Haman come again tomorrow to the feast which I shall prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do the same."
9 So Haman went out from the king very glad and merry; but when Haman saw Mordecai the Jew in the court, he was greatly enraged.
10 Having gone into his own house, he called his friends, and his wife Zeresh.
11 He showed them his wealth and the glory with which the king had invested him, and how he had promoted him to be chief ruler in the kingdom.
12 Haman said, "The queen has called no one to the feast with the king but me, and I am invited tomorrow.
13 But these things do not please me while I see Mordecai the Jew in the court.
14 Then Zeresh his wife and his friends said to him, "Let a fifty cubit tall gallows be made for you. In the morning you speak to the king, and let Mordecai be hanged on the gallows; but you go in to the feast with the king, and be merry." The saying pleased Haman, and the gallows was prepared.