Esther 5

Esther Plans a Banquet

1Now it cameH1961 aboutH1961 1on the thirdH7992 dayH3117 that EstherH635 putH3847 onH3847 her royalH4438 robesH3847 and stoodH5975 2in the innerH6442 courtyardH2691 of the king’sH4428 palaceH1004 in frontH5227 of the king’sH4428 3roomsH1004, and the kingH4428 was sittingH3427 on his royalH4438 throneH3678 in the 4throneH4438 roomH1004, oppositeH5227 the entranceH6607 to the palaceH1004. 2When the kingH4428 sawH7200 EstherH635 the queenH4436 standingH5975 in the courtyardH2691, 5she obtainedH5375 favorH2580 in his sightH5869; and 6the kingH4428 extendedH3447 to EstherH635 the goldenH2091 scepterH8275 whichH834 was in his handH3027. So EstherH635 approachedH7126 and touchedH5060 the topH7218 of the scepterH8275. 3Then the kingH4428 saidH559 to her, “WhatH4100 is troubling you, QueenH4436 EstherH635? And whatH4100 is your requestH1246? 7Up to halfH2677 of the kingdomH4438 it shall be givenH5414 to you.” 4EstherH635 saidH559, “IfH518 it pleasesH2895 the kingH4428, may the kingH4428 and HamanH2001 comeH935 this dayH3117 to the banquetH4960 that I have preparedH6213 for him.”

5Then the kingH4428 saidH559, “8BringH4116 HamanH2001 quicklyH4116 so that we may doH6213 9as EstherH635 desiresH1697.” So the kingH4428 and HamanH2001 cameH935 to the banquetH4960 whichH834 EstherH635 had preparedH6213. 610As they drankH4960 their wineH3196 atH4960 theH4960 banquetH4960, 11the kingH4428 saidH559 to EstherH635, “12WhatH4100 is your requestH7596, for it shall be grantedH5414 to you. And whatH4100 is your wishH1246? Up to halfH2677 of the kingdomH4438 it shall be doneH6213.” 7So EstherH635 repliedH6030, “My requestH7596 and my wishH1246 is: 813ifH518 I have foundH4672 favorH2580 in the sightH5869 of the kingH4428, and ifH518 it pleasesH2895 the kingH4428 to grantH5414 my requestH7596 and doH6213 14whatH1246 I wishH1246, may the kingH4428 and HamanH2001 comeH935 to 15the banquetH4960 whichH834 I will prepareH6213 for them, and tomorrowH4279 I will doH6213 16as the kingH4428 saysH1697.”

Haman’s Pride

9Then HamanH2001 wentH3318 outH3318 that dayH3117 joyfulH8056 and pleasedH2896 of heartH3820; but when HamanH2001 sawH7200 MordecaiH4782 17at the king’sH4428 gateH8179 and 18that he did not standH6965 upH6965 or trembleH2111 beforeH4480 him, HamanH2001 was filledH4390 with angerH2534 againstH5921 MordecaiH4782. 10HamanH2001 controlledH662 himself, however, and wentH935 to his houseH1004. But he 19sentH7971 for his friendsH157 and his wifeH802 20ZereshH2238. 11Then HamanH2001 toldH5608 them of the gloryH3519 of his richesH6239, and his 21manyH7230 sonsH1121, and everyH3605 occasion on whichH834 the kingH4428 had honoredH1431 him and howH834 he had 2223promotedH5375 him aboveH5921 the officialsH8269 and servantsH5650 of the kingH4428. 12HamanH2001 alsoH637 saidH559, “EvenH637 EstherH635 the queenH4436 let noH3808 one except me comeH935 with the kingH4428 to the banquetH4960 whichH834 she had preparedH6213; and 24tomorrowH4279 alsoH1571 I am invitedH7121 by her with the kingH4428. 13Yet allH3605 of thisH2088 25does not satisfyH7737 me everyH3605 timeH6256 I seeH7200 MordecaiH4782 the JewH3064 sittingH3427 at 26the king’sH4428 gateH8179.” 14Then ZereshH2238 his wifeH802 and allH3605 his friendsH157 saidH559 to him, “27Have a woodenH6086 gallows 28fiftyH2572 cubitsH520 highH1364 madeH6213, and in the morningH1242 askH559 the kingH4428 to have MordecaiH4782 hangedH8518 on it; then goH935 joyfullyH8056 with the kingH4428 to the banquetH4960.” And the 29adviceH1697 pleasedH3190 HamanH2001, so he had the woodenH6086 gallows madeH6213.