Esther 5
Esther Invites the King
and Haman to a Banquet |
1 |
Now it came to pass on the third day,
that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the
inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and
the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against
the gate of the house.
|
2 |
And it was so, when the king saw Esther
the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favor in
his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of
the sceptre.
|
3 |
Then said the king unto her, What wilt
thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even
given thee to the half of the kingdom.
|
4 |
And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the
banquet that I have prepared for him.
|
5 |
Then the king said, Cause Haman to make
haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman
came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
|
6 |
And the king said unto Esther at the
banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be
granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of
the kingdom it shall be performed.
|
7 |
Then answered Esther, and said, My
petition and my request is;
|
8 |
If I have found favor in the sight of the
king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform
my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall
prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as the king hath
said.
|
9 |
Then went Haman forth that day joyful
and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mor'decai in the king's
gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of
indignation against Mor'decai.
|
10 |
Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and
when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh
his wife.
|
11 |
And Haman told them of the glory of his
riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above
the princes and servants of the king.
|
12 |
Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the
queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she
had prepared but myself; and tomorrow am I invited unto her also
with the king.
|
13 |
Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long
as I see Mor'decai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.
|
14 |
Then said Zeresh his wife and all his
friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and
tomorrow speak thou unto the king that Mor'decai may be hanged
thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And
the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be
made.
|