Est 5 | NASB1995 | STEP | Now it came about on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace in front of the king’s rooms , and the king was sitting on his royal throne in the throne room , opposite the entrance to the palace .

Esther 5

Esther Plans a Banquet

1 Now it came about ^aon the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood ^bin the inner court of the king’s palace in front of the king’s ^{▼▼ Lit house}rooms, and the king was sitting on his royal throne in the ^{▼▼ Lit royal house}throne room, opposite the entrance to the palace. 2 When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, ^eshe obtained favor in his sight; and ^fthe king extended to Esther the golden scepter which was in his hand. So Esther came near and touched the top of the scepter. 3 Then the king said to her, “What is troubling you, Queen Esther? And what is your request? ^gEven to half of the kingdom it shall be given to you.” 4 Esther said, “If it pleases the king, may the king and Haman come this day to the banquet that I have prepared for him.”

5 Then the king said, ^h“Bring Haman quickly that we may do ^{▼▼ Lit the word of Esther}as Esther desires.” So the king and Haman came to the banquet which Esther had prepared. 6 ^{▼▼ Lit at the banquet of wine}As they drank their wine at the banquet, ^kthe king said to Esther, ^l“What is your petition, for it shall be granted to you. And what is your request? Even to half of the kingdom it shall be done.” 7 So Esther replied, “My petition and my request is: 8 ^mif I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and do ^{▼▼ Lit my request}what I request, may the king and Haman come to ^othe banquet which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do ^{▼▼ Lit according to the word of the king}as the king says.”

Haman’s Pride

9 Then Haman went out that day glad and pleased of heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai ^qin the king’s gate and ^rthat he did not stand up or ^{▼▼ Or move for}tremble before him, Haman was filled with anger against Mordecai. 10 Haman controlled himself, however, went to his house and ^{▼▼ Lit sent and brought}sent for his friends and his wife ^uZeresh. 11 Then Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, and the ^{▼▼ Lit multitude
,} ^wnumber of his sons, and every instance where the king had magnified him and how he had ^{▼▼ Lit lifted
,} ^ypromoted him above the princes and servants of the king. 12 Haman also said, “Even Esther the queen let no one but me come with the king to the banquet which she had prepared; and ^ztomorrow also I am ^{▼▼ Lit summoned to her}invited by her with the king. 13 “Yet all of this ^{▼▼ Lit is not suitable to me}does not satisfy me every time I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at ^acthe king’s gate.” 14 Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, ^ad“Have a ^{▼▼ Lit tree}gallows fifty cubits high made and in the morning ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it; then go joyfully with the king to the banquet.” And the ^{▼▼ Lit thing}advice pleased Haman, so he had the gallows made.