1Now on the third day, Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, opposite the throne room; and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, facing the main entrance to the palace. 2And when the king saw Esther, the queen, standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight; and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the scepter. 3Then the king said to her, “What is it, queen Esther? And what is your request? It shall be given to you even to the half of the kingdom.” 4And Esther said, “If it seems good to the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him.” 5Then the king said, “Bring Haman here quickly, that he may do as Esther has said.” So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared. 6And the king said to Esther at the banquet of wine, “What is your petition? And it shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.” 7Then Esther answered, “My petition and my request is: 8If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and do as I request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet tomorrow that I shall prepare for them, and then I will make my petition as the king has said.”

9Then Haman left that day joyful and in good spirits. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, and that he did not stand up, nor show fear in his presence, he was full of indignation against Mordecai. 10Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself; and when he reached home, he sent and called for his friends, and his wife, Zeresh. 11And Haman boasted to them of the glory of his riches, the multitude of his children, all the things in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king. 12Haman said further, “Yes, even Esther, the queen, did not let any man come in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared but me; and tomorrow I am invited by her along with the king. 13And yet all this gives me no satisfaction, as long as I see Mordecai, the Jew, sitting at the king's gate.” 14Then Zeresh, his wife, and all his friends told him, “Let a gallows be built fifty cubits (seventy-five feet) high, and then, tomorrow, ask the king that Mordecai may be hanged on it; then go merrily in with the king to the banquet.” And that idea pleased Haman; and he ordered the gallows to be made.