1 On the third day Esther dressed in her royal attire and took her stand in the inner court of the palace, opposite the king's hall. The king was seated on his royal throne in the throne room, facing its entrance.
2 As soon as the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she gained his favor, and he extended to her the gold scepter in his hand. Esther came forward and touched the end of the scepter.
3 "What troubles you, Queen Esther?" the king asked her. "What is it you want? Up to half the kingdom, it will be given to you."
4 Esther answered, "If it pleases the king, let the king come today with Haman to a feast I have prepared for him."
5 The king said, "Bring Haman at once, so we can do what Esther asks." So the king and Haman went to the feast Esther had prepared.
6 While they were drinking wine, the king asked Esther, "What is your petition? It will be granted to you. And what is your request? Up to half the kingdom, it will be done."
7 Esther replied, "This is my petition and my request:
8 If I have found favor with the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and carry out my request, let the king and Haman come to the feast I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has asked."
9 Haman left that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king's gate, and Mordecai neither rose nor showed any fear of him, Haman was furious with Mordecai.
10 Yet Haman controlled himself and went home. He sent for his friends and his wife Zeresh,
11 and Haman boasted to them about the glory of his wealth, his many sons, and every way the king had honored him and raised him above the officials and servants of the king.
12 "Besides," Haman added, "Queen Esther invited no one but me to accompany the king to the feast she prepared. And I am invited by her again tomorrow along with the king.
13 But none of this satisfies me as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate."
14 His wife Zeresh and all his friends told him, "Have a gallows built, fifty cubits high, and in the morning ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then go with the king to the feast and enjoy yourself." Haman liked the suggestion and had the gallows built.