Esther 5
5
Esther acts
1Three days later, Esther put on royal clothes and stood in the inner courtyard of the palace, facing the palace itself. At that moment the king was inside sitting on his royal throne and facing the palace doorway. 2When the king noticed Queen Esther standing in the entry court, he was pleased. The king held out to Esther the gold scepter in his hand, and she came forward and touched the scepter’s tip.
3Then the king said to her, “What is it, Queen Esther? What do you want? I’ll give you anything—even half the kingdom.”
4Esther answered, “If the king wishes, please come today with Haman for the feast that I have prepared for him.”
5“Hurry, get Haman,” the king ordered, “so we can do what Esther says.” So the king and Haman came to the feast that Esther had prepared. 6As they sipped wine, the king asked, “Now what is it you wish? I’ll give it to you. What do you want? I’ll do anything—even give you half the kingdom.”
7Esther answered, “This is my wish and this is what I want: 8If I please the king, and if the king wishes to grant my wish and my desire, I’d like the king and Haman to come to another feast that I will prepare for them. Tomorrow I will answer the king’s questions.”
Haman boasts, complains, and acts
9That day Haman left Esther’s place happy, his spirits high, but then he saw Mordecai in the King’s Gate. Mordecai neither stood up nor seemed the least bit nervous around him, so Haman suddenly felt great rage toward Mordecai. 10But Haman held himself back and went on home. He sent word that his friends and his wife Zeresh should join him there. 11Haman boasted to them about his great wealth and his many sons. He told all about how the king had honored him by promoting him over the officials and high royal workers. 12“Best of all,” Haman said, “Queen Esther has invited no one else but me to join the king for food and drinks that she has prepared. In fact, I’ve been called to join the king at her place tomorrow! 13But all this loses its meaning every time I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the King’s Gate.”
14So his wife Zeresh and all his friends told him: “Have people prepare a pointed pole seventy-five feet high. In the morning, tell the king to have Mordecai impaled on it. Then you can go with the king to the feast in a happy mood.” Haman liked the idea and had the pole prepared.
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2011 Common English Bible. All rights reserved.
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.