Esther 5
Lexham English Bible
Esther’s Banquet
5 And it happened, on the third day, and Esther put on royal clothes, and she stood in the inner courtyard of the king’s palace,[a] opposite the king’s palace;[b] the king was sitting on his royal throne in the throne room[c] opposite the doorway of the palace. 2 When the king saw Queen Esther standing in the courtyard she found favor in his eyes, and the king held out the gold scepter that was in his hand to Esther, and Esther approached and touched the top of the scepter. 3 And the king said to her, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? It will be given to you—even half the kingdom.” 4 And Esther said, “If it is good to the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him.” 5 And the king said, “Bring Haman quickly to fulfill[d] the request of Esther.” So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared. 6 And the king said to Esther while they were drinking wine,[e] “What is your petition? It will be given to you. What is your request? Even half the kingdom, it will done. 7 And Esther answered and said, “This is my petition and my request. 8 If I have found favor in the eyes of the king,[f] and if it is good to the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I will prepare for them tomorrow, and I will do according to the word of the king.
9 And Haman went out on that day rejoicing and feeling good.[g] But when Haman saw Mordecai at the gate of the king, and he did not rise or tremble before him, Haman was filled with rage toward[h] Mordecai. 10 But Haman controlled himself and went to his house, and he sent for and brought his friends and Zeresh his wife. 11 And Haman recounted to them the splendor of his wealth and the number of his sons and all the ways that the king had honored him and promoted him above the officials and king’s servants. 12 And Haman added,[i] “Esther the Queen did not let just anyone come to the banquet that she prepared with the king except me, and I am also invited tomorrow to her banquet with the king. 13 But all this fails to satisfy me[j] when[k] I see Mordecai the Jew setting at the gate of the king.” 14 And Zeresh his wife and all of his friends said to him, “Let them make a gallows fifty cubits[l] high, and in the morning tell the king, “Let them hang Mordecai on it; then go with the king to the banquet happily.” The advice pleased Haman, so he had the gallows made.
Footnotes
- Esther 5:1 Literally “house of the king”
- Esther 5:1 Literally “house of the king”
- Esther 5:1 Literally “house of the reign” or “house of the kingdom”
- Esther 5:5 Literally “to do”
- Esther 5:6 Literally “at the meal of wine”
- Esther 5:8 Or “I have won the favor of the king
- Esther 5:9 Literally “good of heart”
- Esther 5:9 Literally “rage to”
- Esther 5:12 Literally “And Haman said also”
- Esther 5:13 Literally “it is not sufficient for me”
- Esther 5:13 Literally “at every time”
- Esther 5:14 Hebrew “cubit”
Esther 5
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Esther’s Banquet
5 On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, opposite the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne inside the palace opposite the entrance to the palace.(A) 2 As soon as the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won his favor, and he held out to her the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther approached and touched the top of the scepter.(B) 3 The king said to her, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even to half of my kingdom, it shall be given you.”(C) 4 Then Esther said, “If it pleases the king, let the king and Haman come today to a banquet that I have prepared for the king.” 5 Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, so that we may do as Esther desires.” So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.(D) 6 While they were drinking wine, the king said to Esther, “What is your petition? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.”(E) 7 Then Esther answered, “This is my petition and request: 8 If I have won the king’s favor, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet that I will prepare for them, and then I will do as the king has said.”(F)
Haman Plans to Have Mordecai Hung
9 Haman went out that day happy and in good spirits, but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate and observed that he neither rose nor trembled before him, he was infuriated with Mordecai;(G) 10 nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. Then he sent and called for his friends and his wife Zeresh,(H) 11 and Haman recounted to them the splendor of his riches, the number of his sons, all the promotions with which the king had honored him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and the ministers of the king.(I) 12 Haman added, “Even Queen Esther let no one but myself come with the king to the banquet that she prepared. Tomorrow also I am invited by her, together with the king.(J) 13 Yet all this does me no good so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”(K) 14 Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Let a pole fifty cubits high be made, and in the morning tell the king to have Mordecai hung on it; then go with the king to the banquet in good spirits.” This advice pleased Haman, and he had the pole made.(L)
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