Esther 5:9-14

Expanded Bible

Haman’s Plans Against Mordecai

⁹ Haman left the king’s ·palace [^Lhouse] that day happy and ·content [^Lgood of heart]. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and saw that Mordecai did not ·stand up [rise] or tremble ·with fear before him [in his presence], Haman ·became very angry with [was filled with rage against] Mordecai. ¹⁰ But he ·controlled his anger [restrained himself] and went home.

Then Haman called together his friends and his wife, Zeresh. ¹¹ He ·told [boasted/recounted to] them ·how wealthy he was [^Lof the glory of his riches] and how many sons he had [^Cten; 9:10]. He also told them all the ways the king had ·honored [^Lmagnified] him and how the king had ·placed him higher than [exalted him over] his ·important men [nobles] and his ·royal officers [ministers; officials]. ¹² He also said, “I’m the only person Queen Esther ·invited [^Lcaused] to come with the king to the banquet she gave. And tomorrow also the queen has asked me to be her guest with the king. ¹³ But all this does not ·really make me happy [satisfy me] ·when [as long as] I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.”

¹⁴ Then Haman’s wife, Zeresh, and all his friends said, “Have a ·seventy-five-foot [^Lfifty cubits] ·platform [gallows; pole] built, and in the morning ask the king to have Mordecai ·hanged [impaled] on it. Then go to the banquet with the king and be ·happy [content; joyful].” Haman ·liked [was pleased/delighted by] this suggestion, so he ordered the ·platform [gallows; pole] to be built.