Esther 4:15-5:3

Christian Standard Bible

¹⁵ Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: ¹⁶ “Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa and fast for me. Don’t eat or drink for three days,^(A) night or day. I and my female servants will also fast^(B) in the same way. After that, I will go to the king even if it is against the law.^(C) If I perish, I perish.”^{(D) 17} So Mordecai went and did everything Esther had commanded him.

Esther Approaches the King

5 On the third day,^(E) Esther dressed in her royal clothing and stood in the inner courtyard^(F) 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.^(G)

³ “What is it, Queen Esther?” the king asked her. “Whatever you want, even to half the kingdom, will be given to you.”^(H)