1 ¶ Now on the third day, Esther put on her royal robes, and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, facing the throne room: and the king was sitting on his royal throne in the royal palace, facing the main entrance of the palace.

2 And when 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 drew near, and touched the top of the scepter.

3 Then the king asked her, What is on your mind, queen Esther? and what is your request? Even if it is half of the kingdom it will be given to you.

4 And Esther answered, If it seems good to the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him.

5 Then the king said, Have Haman hurry, and do as Esther asks. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

6 And as they were drinking wine the king asked Esther, What is your request? it will be granted: and what do you ask for? even if it is half of the kingdom it will be done.

7 Then Esther said, As to what I want and ask for;

8 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 banquet that I will prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as the king has said.

9 ¶ When Haman left that day he was joyful and elated in heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai at the king’s gate, not getting up, or trembling before him, he was furious with Mordecai.

10 Nevertheless Haman restrained himself: and when he arrived home, he sent for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.

11 And Haman told them how rich he was, and how many sons he had, and all about the king making him a great man, and how he had promoted him above the king’s other officers and men.

12 Haman then added, Yea, Esther the queen did not have any man come in to be with the king at the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and tomorrow I am again invited by her to be with the king.

13 Yet none of this satisfies me, as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.

14 Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, have a gallows built fifty cubits high, and in the morning ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it: then go in cheerfully with the king to the banquet. And Haman liked the idea; so he had the gallows built.