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Esther 5-6
Christian Standard Bible
Esther 5-6
Christian Standard Bible
Esther Approaches the King
5 On the third day,(A) Esther dressed in her royal clothing and stood in the inner courtyard(B) of the palace facing it. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the royal courtroom,[a] facing its entrance. 2 As soon as the king saw Queen Esther standing in the courtyard, she gained favor with him. The king extended the gold scepter in his hand toward Esther, and she approached and touched the tip of the scepter.(C)
3 “What is it, Queen Esther?” the king asked her. “Whatever you want, even to half the kingdom, will be given to you.”(D)
4 “If it pleases the king,” Esther replied, “may the king and Haman come today to the banquet(E) I have prepared for them.”
5 The king said, “Hurry, and get Haman so we can do as Esther has requested.” So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared.
6 While drinking the[b] wine,(F) the king asked Esther, “Whatever you ask will be given to you. Whatever you want, even to half the kingdom, will be done.”
7 Esther answered, “This is my petition and my request: 8 If I have found favor in the eyes of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and perform my request,(G) may the king and Haman come to the banquet I will prepare for them.(H) Tomorrow I will do what the king has asked.”
9 That day Haman left full of joy and in good spirits.[c](I) But when Haman saw Mordecai at the King’s Gate, and Mordecai didn’t rise or tremble in fear at his presence, Haman was filled with rage toward Mordecai.(J) 10 Yet Haman controlled himself and went home. He sent for his friends and his wife Zeresh(K) to join him. 11 Then Haman described for them his glorious wealth and his many sons. He told them all how the king had honored him and promoted him in rank over the other officials and the royal staff.(L) 12 “What’s more,” Haman added, “Queen Esther invited no one but me to join the king at the banquet she had prepared. I am invited again tomorrow to join her with the king. 13 Still, none of this satisfies me since I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the King’s Gate all the time.”
14 His wife Zeresh and all his friends told him, “Have them build a gallows seventy-five feet[d] tall.(M) Ask the king in the morning to hang Mordecai on it. Then go to the banquet with the king and enjoy yourself.” The advice pleased Haman, so he had the gallows constructed.(N)
Mordecai Honored by the King
6 That night sleep escaped(O) the king, so he ordered the book recording daily events to be brought and read to the king. 2 They found the written report of how Mordecai had informed on Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who guarded the entrance, when they planned to assassinate King Ahasuerus.(P) 3 The king inquired, “What honor and special recognition have been given to Mordecai for this act?” (Q)
The king’s personal attendants replied, “Nothing has been done for him.”
4 The king asked, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman was just entering the outer court of the palace to ask the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows he had prepared for him.(R)
5 The king’s attendants answered him, “Haman is there, standing in the court.”
“Have him enter,” the king ordered. 6 Haman entered, and the king asked him, “What should be done for the man the king wants to honor?” (S)
Haman thought to himself, “Who is it the king would want to honor more than me?” 7 Haman told the king, “For the man the king wants to honor: 8 Have them bring a royal garment that the king himself has worn(T) and a horse the king himself has ridden,(U) which has a royal crown on its head. 9 Put the garment and the horse under the charge of one of the king’s most noble officials.(V) Have them clothe the man the king wants to honor, parade him on the horse through the city square, and call out before him, ‘This is what is done for the man the king wants to honor.’”
10 The king told Haman, “Hurry, and do just as you proposed. Take a garment and a horse for Mordecai the Jew,(W) who is sitting at the King’s Gate. Do not leave out anything you have suggested.”
11 So Haman took the garment and the horse. He clothed Mordecai and paraded him through the city square, calling out before him, “This is what is done for the man the king wants to honor.”
12 Then Mordecai returned to the King’s Gate,(X) but Haman hurried off for home, mournful and with his head covered.(Y) 13 Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends(Z) everything that had happened. His advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, “Since Mordecai is Jewish, and you have begun to fall before him, you won’t overcome him, because your downfall is certain.”(AA) 14 While they were still speaking with him, the king’s eunuchs(AB) arrived and rushed Haman to the banquet Esther had prepared.(AC)
Esther 5-6
New International Version
Esther 5-6
New International Version
Esther’s Request to the King
5 On the third day Esther put on her royal robes(A) and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s(B) hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. 2 When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.(C)
3 Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom,(D) 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. 6 As they were drinking wine,(E) 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,(F) it will be granted.”(G)
7 Esther replied, “My petition and my request is this: 8 If the king regards me with favor(H) and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet(I) I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.”
Haman’s Rage Against Mordecai
9 Haman 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(J) against Mordecai.(K) 10 Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home.
Calling together his friends and Zeresh,(L) his wife, 11 Haman boasted(M) to them about his vast wealth, his many sons,(N) and all the ways the king had honored 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(O) Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she gave. And she has invited me along with the king tomorrow. 13 But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.(P)”
14 His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Have a pole set up, reaching to a height of fifty cubits,[a](Q) and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai impaled(R) on it. Then go with the king to the banquet and enjoy yourself.” This suggestion delighted Haman, and he had the pole set up.
Mordecai Honored
6 That night the king could not sleep;(S) so he ordered the book of the chronicles,(T) the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him. 2 It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.(U)
3 “What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?” the king asked.
“Nothing has been done for him,”(V) his attendants answered.
4 The king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to speak to the king about impaling Mordecai on the pole he had set up for him.
5 His attendants answered, “Haman is standing in the court.”
“Bring him in,” the king ordered.
6 When Haman entered, the king asked him, “What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?”
Now Haman thought to himself, “Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?” 7 So he answered the king, “For the man the king delights to honor, 8 have them bring a royal robe(W) the king has worn and a horse(X) the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. 9 Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honor, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!(Y)’”
10 “Go at once,” the king commanded Haman. “Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended.”
11 So Haman got(Z) the robe and the horse. He robed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city streets, proclaiming before him, “This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!”
12 Afterward Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman rushed home, with his head covered(AA) in grief, 13 and told Zeresh(AB) his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him.
His advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, “Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall(AC) has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him—you will surely come to ruin!”(AD) 14 While they were still talking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived and hurried Haman away to the banquet(AE) Esther had prepared.
Footnotes
- Esther 5:14 That is, about 75 feet or about 23 meters
Acts 18:18-28
Christian Standard Bible
Acts 18:18-28
Christian Standard Bible
The Return Trip to Antioch
18 After staying for some time, Paul said farewell to the brothers and sisters and sailed away to Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. He shaved his head at Cenchreae because of a vow he had taken.(A) 19 When they reached Ephesus(B) he left them there, but he himself entered the synagogue and debated with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to stay for a longer time, he declined, 21 but he said farewell and added,[a] “I’ll come back to you again, if God wills.”(C) Then he set sail from Ephesus.
22 On landing at Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church, then went down to Antioch.(D)
23 After spending some time there, he set out, traveling through one place after another in the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.(E)
The Eloquent Apollos
24 Now a Jew named Apollos,(F) a native Alexandrian, an eloquent man who was competent in the use of the Scriptures, arrived in Ephesus. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit,[b] he was speaking and teaching accurately about Jesus, although he knew only John’s baptism.(G) 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. After Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside[c] and explained the way of God to him more accurately.(H) 27 When he wanted to cross over to Achaia, the brothers and sisters wrote to the disciples to welcome him. After he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed.(I) 28 For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating through the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah.(J)
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Acts 18:18-28
New International Version
Acts 18:18-28
New International Version
Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos
18 Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sisters(A) and sailed for Syria,(B) accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila.(C) Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchreae(D) because of a vow he had taken.(E) 19 They arrived at Ephesus,(F) where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. 21 But as he left, he promised, “I will come back if it is God’s will.”(G) Then he set sail from Ephesus. 22 When he landed at Caesarea,(H) he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.(I)
23 After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia(J) and Phrygia,(K) strengthening all the disciples.(L)
24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos,(M) a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus.(N) He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor[a](O) and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John.(P) 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila(Q) heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
27 When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia,(R) the brothers and sisters(S) encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28 For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures(T) that Jesus was the Messiah.(U)
Footnotes
- Acts 18:25 Or with fervor in the Spirit
Psalm 86:9-17
Christian Standard Bible
Psalm 86:9-17
Christian Standard Bible
9 All the nations you have made
will come and bow down before you, Lord,
and will honor your name.(A)
10 For you are great and perform wonders;
you alone are God.(B)
11 Teach me your way, Lord,
and I will live by your truth.
Give me an undivided mind to fear your name.(C)
12 I will praise you with all my heart, Lord my God,
and will honor your name forever.(D)
13 For your faithful love for me is great,
and you rescue my life from the depths of Sheol.(E)
14 God, arrogant people have attacked me;
a gang of ruthless men intends to kill me.
They do not let you guide them.[a](F)
15 But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth.(G)
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me.
Give your strength to your servant;
save the son of your female servant.(H)
17 Show me a sign of your goodness;
my enemies will see and be put to shame
because you, Lord, have helped and comforted me.(I)
Footnotes
- 86:14 Lit They do not set you in front of them
Psalm 86:9-17
New International Version
Psalm 86:9-17
New International Version
9 All the nations you have made
will come(A) and worship(B) before you, Lord;
they will bring glory(C) to your name.
10 For you are great(D) and do marvelous deeds;(E)
you alone(F) are God.
11 Teach me your way,(G) Lord,
that I may rely on your faithfulness;(H)
give me an undivided(I) heart,
that I may fear(J) your name.
12 I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;(K)
I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me(L) from the depths,
from the realm of the dead.(M)
14 Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God;
ruthless people are trying to kill me—
they have no regard for you.(N)
15 But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious(O) God,
slow to anger,(P) abounding(Q) in love and faithfulness.(R)
16 Turn to me(S) and have mercy(T) on me;
show your strength(U) in behalf of your servant;
save me, because I serve you
just as my mother did.(V)
17 Give me a sign(W) of your goodness,
that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,
for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.
Proverbs 18:9-10
New International Version
Proverbs 18:9-10
New International Version
9 One who is slack in his work
is brother to one who destroys.(A)
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
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