¹And it came about on the third day that Esther put on royal robes and stood in the inner courtyard of the king's house, facing the king's house; and the king was sitting on his royal throne in the royal house, facing the entrance of the house.

²And it came about, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the courtyard, that she gained favor in his eyes; and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand, and Esther came near and touched the top of the scepter.

³And the king said to her: What is it with you, Queen Esther? And what is your request? Even up to half of the kingdom—it will be given to you.

⁴And Esther said: If it is good to the king, let the king and Haman come today to the feast that I have prepared for him.

⁵And the king said: Bring Haman quickly, so as to do Esther's word. And the king and Haman came to the feast that Esther had made.

⁶And the king said to Esther at the wine feast: What is your petition? It will be given to you. And what is your request? Even up to half of the kingdom—and it will be done.

⁷And Esther answered and said: My petition and my request:

⁸If I have found favor in the eyes of the king, and if it is good to the king to give my petition and to do my request, let the king and Haman come to the feast that I will prepare for them; and tomorrow I will do according to the word of the king.

⁹And Haman went out on that day glad and happy of heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai at the king's gate, and he did not rise or tremble before him, Haman was filled with rage against Mordecai.

¹⁰And Haman held himself back and went to his house; and he sent and brought his friends and Zeresh his wife.

¹¹And Haman recounted to them the weightiness of his wealth, and the multitude of his sons, and everything in which the king had made him great, and how he had lifted him up above the officials and the servants of the king.

¹²And Haman said, Also Esther the queen did not bring with the king to the feast which she made but me; and also to the time to come I am called to her with the king.

¹³And all this does not measure up for me whenever I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.

¹⁴And Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him: Let them make a pole of wood fifty cubits high, and in the morning speak to the king, and let them hang Mordecai on it; then go with the king to the feast, glad. And the word pleased Haman, and he made the pole.