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¹ Now it happened on the third day, that Ester put on her royal clothing, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, over against the entrance of the house. ² It was so, when the king saw Ester the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favor in his sight; and the king held out to Ester the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Ester drew near, and touched the top of the scepter. ³ Then said the king to her, What will you, queen Ester? and what is your request? it shall be given you even to the half of the kingdom. ⁴ Ester said, If it seem good to the king, let the king and Haman come this day to the banquet that I have prepared for him. ⁵ Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that it may be done as Ester has said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Ester had prepared. ⁶ The king said to Ester at the banquet of wine, What is your petition? and it shall be granted you: and what is your request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed. ⁷ Then answered Ester, and said, My petition and my request is: ⁸ if I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as the king has said.

⁹ Then went Haman forth that day joyful and glad of heart: but when Haman saw Mordekhai in the king's gate, that he didn't stand up nor move for him, he was filled with wrath against Mordekhai. ¹⁰ Nevertheless Haman refrained himself, and went home; and he sent and fetched his friends and Zeresh his wife. ¹¹ Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king. ¹² Haman said moreover, Yes, Ester the queen did let no man come in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and tomorrow also am I invited by her together with the king. ¹³ Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordekhai the Yehudi sitting at the king's gate. ¹⁴ Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends to him, Let a gallows be made fifty cubits high, and in the morning speak you to the king that Mordekhai may be hanged thereon: then go you in merrily with the king to the banquet. The thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.