Read the Bible

Esther Plans a Banquet

¹ Now it came about ^(C1)on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood ^(C2)in the inner courtyard of the king's palace in front of the king's ^(F1)rooms, and the king was sitting on his royal throne in the ^(F2)throne room, opposite the entrance to the palace.² When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the courtyard, ^(C1)she obtained favor in his sight; and ^(C2)the king extended to Esther the golden scepter which was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the top of the scepter.³ Then the king said to her, "What is troubling you, Queen Esther? And what is your request? ^(C1)Up to half of the kingdom it shall be given to you."⁴ Esther said, "If it pleases the king, may the king and Haman come this day to the banquet that I have prepared for him."

⁵ Then the king said, "^(C1)Bring Haman quickly so that we may do ^(F1)as Esther desires." So the king and Haman came to the banquet which Esther had prepared.^6 (F1)As they drank their wine at the banquet, ^(C1)the king said to Esther, "^(C2)What is your request, for it shall be granted to you. And what is your wish? Up to half of the kingdom it shall be done."⁷ So Esther replied, "My request and my wish is:^8 (C1)if I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my request and do ^(F1)what I wish, may the king and Haman come to ^(C2)the banquet which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do ^(F2)as the king says."

Haman's Pride

⁹ Then Haman went out that day joyful and pleased of heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai ^(C1)at the king's gate and ^(C2)that he did not stand up or tremble before him, Haman was filled with anger against Mordecai.¹⁰ Haman controlled himself, however, and went to his house. But he ^(F1)sent for his friends and his wife ^(C1)Zeresh.¹¹ Then Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and his ^(C1)many sons, and every occasion on which the king had honored him and how he had ^(F1)(C2)promoted him above the officials and servants of the king.¹² Haman also said, "Even Esther the queen let no one except me come with the king to the banquet which she had prepared; and ^(C1)tomorrow also I am invited by her with the king.¹³ "Yet all of this ^(F1)does not satisfy me every time I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at ^(C1)the king's gate."¹⁴ Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, "^(C1)Have a wooden gallows ^(F1)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 ^(F2)advice pleased Haman, so he had the wooden gallows made.