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Esther 5
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)

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
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Esther 5
Legacy Standard Bible

Esther Prepares a Feast

5 Now it happened (A)on the third day, that Esther put on her royal robes and stood (B)in the inner court of the king’s house 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 his house. 2 Now it happened that when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, (C)she advanced in favor in his eyes; and (D)the king extended to Esther the golden scepter which was in his hand. So Esther came near and [c]reached out and touched the top of the scepter. 3 Then the king said to her, “What is troubling you, Queen Esther? And what is [d]your request? (E)Even to half of the kingdom it shall be given to you.” 4 And Esther said, “If it seems good to the king, may the king and Haman come this day to the feast that I have prepared for him.”

5 Then the king said, “(F)Bring Haman quickly that we may do the word of Esther.” So the king and Haman came to the feast which Esther had prepared. 6 Then, [e]as they drank their wine at the feast, (G)the king said to Esther, “(H)What is [f]your petition? For it shall be given to you. And what is [g]your request? Even to half of the kingdom it shall be done.” 7 So Esther answered and said, “[h]My petition and [i]my request is: 8 (I)if I have found favor in the eyes of the king, and if it seems good to the king to give heed to [j]my petition and to do [k]my request, may the king and Haman come to (J)the feast which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do according to the word of the king.”

Haman Recounts His Glory

9 Then Haman went out that day glad and merry of heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai (K)in the king’s gate and (L)that he did not stand up or [l]tremble before him, Haman was filled with wrath against Mordecai. 10 But Haman controlled himself, went to his house, and sent for and brought his friends and his wife (M)Zeresh. 11 Then Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches and the [m](N)number of his sons and every instance where the king had magnified him and how he had [n](O)advanced 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 feast which she had prepared; and (P)tomorrow also I am called to come to her with the king. 13 Yet all of this is worth nothing to 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 [o]gallows [p]fifty cubits high made and in the morning say to the king that Mordecai should be hanged on it; then go gladly with the king to the feast.” And the word was good to Haman, so he had the gallows made.

Footnotes

  1. Esther 5:1 Lit house
  2. Esther 5:1 Lit royal house
  3. Esther 5:2 The Heb root for touched, in a variant form, is translated as reached in Esth 2:12, 15; 4:3, 14; 6:14; 8:17; 9:26
  4. Esther 5:3 Or that which you seek
  5. Esther 5:6 Lit at the banquet of wine
  6. Esther 5:6 Or that which you ask for
  7. Esther 5:6 Or that which you seek
  8. Esther 5:7 Or What I ask for
  9. Esther 5:7 Or what I seek
  10. Esther 5:8 Or what I ask for
  11. Esther 5:8 Or what I am seeking
  12. Esther 5:9 Or move for
  13. Esther 5:11 Lit multitude
  14. Esther 5:11 Lit lifted
  15. Esther 5:14 Lit tree, cf. Deut 21:22-23
  16. Esther 5:14 Approx. 75 ft. or 23 m, a cubit was approx. 18 in. or 45 cm
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Esther 4
Esther 6
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