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Esther Approaches the King

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. 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)

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

“If it pleases the king,” Esther replied, “may the king and Haman come today to the banquet(E) I have prepared for them.”

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.

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.”

Esther answered, “This is my petition and my request: 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.”

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)

Footnotes

  1. 5:1 Lit house
  2. 5:6 Lit During the banquet of
  3. 5:9 Lit left rejoicing and good of heart
  4. 5:14 Lit 50 cubits

Esther Plans a Banquet

Now it came about (A)on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood (B)in the inner court of the king’s palace in front of the king’s [a]rooms, and the king was sitting on his royal throne in the [b]throne room, opposite the entrance to the palace. When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, (C)she obtained favor in his sight; and (D)the king extended to Esther the golden scepter which was in his hand. So Esther came near and touched the top of the scepter. Then the king said to her, “What is troubling you, Queen Esther? And what is your request? (E)Even to half of the kingdom it shall be given to you.” Esther said, “If it pleases the king, may the king and Haman come this day to the banquet that I have prepared for him.”

Then the king said, “(F)Bring Haman quickly that we may do [c]as Esther desires.” So the king and Haman came to the banquet which Esther had prepared. [d]As they drank their wine at the banquet, (G)the king said to Esther, “(H)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.” So Esther replied, “My petition and my request is: (I)if I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and do [e]what I request, may the king and Haman come to (J)the banquet which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do [f]as the king says.”

Haman’s Pride

Then Haman went out that day glad and pleased of heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai (K)in the king’s gate and (L)that he did not stand up or [g]tremble before him, Haman was filled with anger against Mordecai. 10 Haman controlled himself, however, went to his house and [h]sent for his friends and his wife (M)Zeresh. 11 Then Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, and the [i](N)number of his sons, and every instance where the king had magnified him and how he had [j](O)promoted 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 (P)tomorrow also I am [k]invited by her with the king. 13 Yet all of this [l]does not satisfy me every time I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at (Q)the king’s gate.” 14 Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, “(R)Have a [m]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 [n]advice pleased Haman, so he had the gallows made.

Footnotes

  1. Esther 5:1 Lit house
  2. Esther 5:1 Lit royal house
  3. Esther 5:5 Lit the word of Esther
  4. Esther 5:6 Lit at the banquet of wine
  5. Esther 5:8 Lit my request
  6. Esther 5:8 Lit according to the word of the king
  7. Esther 5:9 Or move for
  8. Esther 5:10 Lit sent and brought
  9. Esther 5:11 Lit multitude
  10. Esther 5:11 Lit lifted
  11. Esther 5:12 Lit summoned to her
  12. Esther 5:13 Lit is not suitable to me
  13. Esther 5:14 Lit tree
  14. Esther 5:14 Lit thing

Esther’s Request to the King

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. 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)

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.”

“If it pleases the king,” replied Esther, “let the king, together with Haman, come today to a banquet I have prepared for him.”

“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. 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)

Esther replied, “My petition and my request is this: 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

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.

Footnotes

  1. Esther 5:14 That is, about 75 feet or about 23 meters

Esther’s Banquet

Now it happened (A)on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in (B)the inner court of the king’s palace, across from the king’s house, while the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, facing the entrance of the [a]house. So it was, when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, that (C)she found favor in his sight, and (D)the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther went near and touched the top of the scepter.

And the king said to her, “What do you wish, Queen Esther? What is your request? (E)It shall be given to you—up to half the kingdom!”

So Esther answered, “If it pleases the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him.”

Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, that he may do as Esther has said.” So the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

At the banquet of wine (F)the king said to Esther, (G)“What is your petition? It shall be granted you. What is your request, up to half the kingdom? It shall be done!”

Then Esther answered and said, “My petition and request is this: If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and [b]fulfill my request, then let the king and Haman come to the (H)banquet which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said.”

Haman’s Plot Against Mordecai

So Haman went out that day (I)joyful and with a glad heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, and (J)that he did not stand or tremble before him, he was filled with indignation against Mordecai. 10 Nevertheless Haman (K)restrained himself and went home, and he sent and called for his friends and his wife Zeresh. 11 Then Haman told them of his great riches, (L)the multitude of his children, everything in which the king had promoted him, and how he had (M)advanced him above the officials and servants of the king.

12 Moreover Haman said, “Besides, Queen Esther invited no one but me to come in with the king to the banquet that she prepared; and tomorrow I am again invited by her, along with the king. 13 Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”

14 Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Let a (N)gallows[c] be made, [d]fifty cubits high, and in the morning (O)suggest to the king that Mordecai be hanged on it; then go merrily with the king to the banquet.”

And the thing pleased Haman; so he had (P)the gallows made.

Footnotes

  1. Esther 5:1 LXX adds many extra details in vv. 1, 2
  2. Esther 5:8 Lit. to do
  3. Esther 5:14 Lit. tree or wood
  4. Esther 5:14 About 75 feet

以斯帖请王率哈曼赴筵

第三日,以斯帖穿上朝服,进王宫的内院,对殿站立。王在殿里坐在宝座上,对着殿门。 王见王后以斯帖站在院内,就施恩于她,向她伸出手中的金杖,以斯帖便向前摸杖头。 王对她说:“王后以斯帖啊,你要什么?你求什么?就是国的一半,也必赐给你。” 以斯帖说:“王若以为美,就请王带着哈曼今日赴我所预备的筵席。”

王说:“叫哈曼速速照以斯帖的话去行。”于是,王带着哈曼以斯帖所预备的筵席。 在酒席筵前,王又问以斯帖说:“你要什么,我必赐给你;你求什么,就是国的一半,也必为你成就。” 以斯帖回答说:“我有所要,我有所求。 我若在王眼前蒙恩,王若愿意赐我所要的,准我所求的,就请王带着哈曼再赴我所要预备的筵席,明日我必照王所问的说明。”

哈曼立木备杀末底改

那日哈曼心中快乐,欢欢喜喜地出来,但见末底改在朝门不站起来,连身也不动,就满心恼怒末底改 10 哈曼暂且忍耐回家,叫人请他朋友和他妻子细利斯来。 11 哈曼将他富厚的荣耀、众多的儿女和王抬举他使他超乎首领臣仆之上,都述说给他们听。 12 哈曼又说:“王后以斯帖预备筵席,除了我之外不许别人随王赴席,明日王后又请我随王赴席。 13 只是我见犹大末底改坐在朝门,虽有这一切荣耀,也与我无益!” 14 他的妻细利斯和他一切的朋友对他说:“不如立一个五丈高的木架,明早求王将末底改挂在其上,然后你可以欢欢喜喜地随王赴席。”哈曼以这话为美,就叫人做了木架。