Esther, Chapter 5:
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Verses from Esther, Chapter 5 of the book of Esther in the Bible.
Esther's request to the king
- 1. After three days, Esther put on her royal robes and positioned herself in the inner courtyard of the palace, in front of the king's hall. The king was sitting on his throne, facing the entrance.
- 2. When the king saw Queen Esther in the courtyard, he had compassion on her and held out the golden scepter that he had in his hand. Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.
- 3. Then the king asked: “What do you want, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even if it is half the kingdom, it will be granted to you.”
- 4. Esther replied, “If it pleases the king, let the king and Haman come to the banquet I have prepared for them.”
- 5. The king ordered: “Bring Haman immediately so that he can fulfill Esther’s request.” And so the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
- 6. While they were drinking wine, the king asked Esther again: “What is your request? He will be attended to. What's your wish? Even if it is half the kingdom, it will be granted to you.”
- 7. Esther replied: “This is my request and desire:
- 8. If the king has regard for me and wishes to grant my request, let the king and Haman attend tomorrow the banquet I have prepared for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.”
- 9. That day Haman left happy and satisfied. But he was enraged when he saw Mordecai, who remained at the palace door and did not stand up or show respect before him.
- 10. Haman, however, controlled his anger and went home. He called his friends and his wife Zeres,
- 11. and began to boast of his riches, the great number of his children, and how the king had honored and promoted him above all other nobles and officials.
- 12. Haman went on to say, “Furthermore, I was the only one invited by Queen Esther to accompany the king to the banquet she prepared. She invited me to appear with the king tomorrow.”
- 13. However, all this does not bring satisfaction to Haman, as he sees Mordecai the Jew sitting at the door of the royal palace.
- 14. Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends suggested, “Make a gallows more than twenty meters high, and in the morning ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then you will be able to accompany the king to the banquet and rejoice.” The suggestion pleased Haman, and he had the gallows built.
