Esther 5
5
Esther’s request to the king
1On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. 2When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the sceptre.
3Then the king asked, ‘What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.’
4‘If it pleases the king,’ replied Esther, ‘let the king, together with Haman, come today to a banquet I have prepared for him.’
5‘Bring Haman at once,’ the king said, ‘so that we may do what Esther asks.’
So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared. 6As they were drinking wine, the king again asked Esther, ‘Now what is your petition? It will be given you. And what is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.’
7Esther replied, ‘My petition and my request is this: 8If the king regards me with favour and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfil my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.’
Haman’s rage against Mordecai
9Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was filled with rage against Mordecai. 10Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home.
Calling together his friends and Zeresh, his wife, 11Haman boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honoured him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials. 12‘And that’s not all,’ Haman added. ‘I’m the only person Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she gave. And she has invited me along with the king tomorrow. 13But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.’
14His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, ‘Have a pole set up, reaching to a height of fifty cubits,#5:14 That is, about 23 metres and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai impaled on it. Then go with the king to the banquet and enjoy yourself.’ This suggestion delighted Haman, and he had the pole set up.
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Esther 5: NIVUK
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The Holy Bible, New International Version® (Anglicised), NIV®
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Esther 5
5
Esther’s Banquet
1Now it happened #Esth. 4:16on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in #Esth. 4:11, 6:4the inner court of the king’s palace, across from the king’s house, while the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, facing the entrance of the house. 2So it was, when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, that #(Prov. 21:1)she found favor in his sight, and #Esth. 4:11, 8:4the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther went near and touched the top of the scepter.
3And the king said to her, “What do you wish, Queen Esther? What is your request? #Esth. 7:2; Mark 6:23It shall be given to you—up to half the kingdom!”
4So Esther answered, “If it pleases the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him.”
5Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, that he may do as Esther has said.” So the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
6At the banquet of wine #Esth. 7:2the king said to Esther, #Esth. 9:12“What is your petition? It shall be granted you. What is your request, up to half the kingdom? It shall be done!”
7Then Esther answered and said, “My petition and request is this: 8If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, then let the king and Haman come to the #Esth. 6:14banquet which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said.”
Haman’s Plot Against Mordecai
9So Haman went out that day #(Job 20:5; Luke 6:25)joyful and with a glad heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, and #Esth. 3:5that he did not stand or tremble before him, he was filled with indignation against Mordecai. 10Nevertheless Haman #2 Sam. 13:22restrained himself and went home, and he sent and called for his friends and his wife Zeresh. 11Then Haman told them of his great riches, #Esth. 9:7–10the multitude of his children, everything in which the king had promoted him, and how he had #Esth. 3:1advanced him above the officials and servants of the king.
12Moreover Haman said, “Besides, Queen Esther invited no one but me to come in with the king to the banquet that she prepared; and tomorrow I am again invited by her, along with the king. 13Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”
14Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Let a #Esth. 7:9gallows be made, fifty cubits high, and in the morning #Esth. 6:4suggest to the king that Mordecai be hanged on it; then go merrily with the king to the banquet.”
And the thing pleased Haman; so he had #Esth. 7:10the gallows made.
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.