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the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance to the palace. 2 When the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she immediately received his approval. The king held out to her the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the sceptre.
3 Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even to half of the kingdom, it will be given to you.”
4 “If it pleases the king,” Esther replied, “let the king, together with Haman, come this day to the banquet I have prepared for him.”
5 The king commanded, “Bring Haman at once, so we can do as Esther has requested.”
So the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther had prepared. 6 As they were drinking wine, the king again asked Esther, “What is your petition? It will be granted you. And what is your request? Even to half of the kingdom, it will be done.”
7 Then Esther answered, “My petition and my request is this: 8 If I have won favour before the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and perform my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will do as the king has asked.”
9 That day Haman went out happy and in high spirits. But when Haman saw Mordecai at the king’s gate, and observed that he neither rose nor trembled with fear at his presence, Haman was filled with rage against Mordecai. 10 Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home.
Then he sent for his friends and his wife Zeresh to join him, 11 and Haman boasted to them of his vast wealth, his many sons, and of all the ways the king had honoured him and promoted him to the highest position above the other officials and all of the king’s other servants. 12 “What is more,”, Haman added, “even Queen Esther invited no one but me to join with the king in the banquet she had prepared. And tomorrow I am also invited to join her with the king. 13 Yet all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.”
14 His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Have a gallows built, fifty cubits high, and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then go to the banquet with the king and enjoy yourself.” This suggestion pleased Haman, so he had the gallows built.