¶ Now it came to pass on the¹ third day, that Esther put on her royal² apparel, and stood in the inner³ court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat⁴ upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.

And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she⁵ obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre⁶ that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.

Then said the king unto her, What⁷ wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to⁸ the half of the kingdom.

And Esther answered, If it seem⁹ good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet¹⁰ that I have prepared for him.

Then the king said, Cause Haman¹¹ to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

And the king said¹² 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.

Then answered Esther, and said, My petition¹³ and my request¹⁴ is;

If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform¹⁵ my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to morrow¹⁶ as the king hath said.

¶ Then went Haman forth that day joyful¹⁷ and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood not up¹⁸, nor moved for him, he was full¹⁹ of indignation against Mordecai.

¶ Nevertheless Haman refrained²⁰ himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends²¹, and Zeresh his wife.

And Haman told them of the glory²² of his riches, and the multitude²³ of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had²⁴ advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.

Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther²⁵ the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to morrow²⁶ am I invited unto her also with the king.

Yet all this²⁷ availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.

Then said Zeresh²⁸ his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows²⁹ be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou³⁰ unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in³¹ merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing³² pleased Haman; and he caused³³ the gallows to be made.