1 On the third day Esther put on her royal apparel {malkhut: symbol of queenship} and stood in the inner court {hapnimith: restricted royal precinct} of the king’s palace, facing the king’s residence. The king was seated on his royal throne inside the royal hall, facing the entrance of the palace.
2 And it came to pass, as the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, that she received favor {chen: gracious esteem} in his eyes; and the king held out the golden scepter {sharvit: royal staff of authority} to Esther, and Esther came forward and touched the head of the scepter.
3 The king said to her, “What do you want, Queen Esther {Esther: the queen’s Persian name}? What is your request {bakashah: formal petition}? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given to you.”
4 Esther said, “If it is good {tov: beneficial or pleasing} to the king, may the king and Haman join me today at the banquet {mishteh: royal feast} I have prepared for him.”
5 The king said, “Bring {mahru: act swiftly} Haman at once, so that we may carry out the matter {devar: official request} Esther has requested.” Then the king and Haman entered the banquet Esther had prepared.
6 During the banquet {mishteh: wine-feast}, the king said to Esther, “Declare your petition, and it will be granted. Pose your request—even to half of the kingdom {malkhut: royal dominion}—and it shall be carried out.”
7 Then Esther answered {vata’an: initial response} and declared, “My petition {she’elati: formal appeal} and my request is this.”
8 If I have found favor {chen: gracious goodwill} in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my request and fulfill my petition, let the king and Haman come to the banquet I will prepare for them; tomorrow I will act according to the word {davar: spoken command} of the king.
9 Haman went out that day joyful {sameach: exuberant delight} and with a glad heart, yet when he saw Mordechai at the king’s gate and Mordechai neither rose nor trembled in his presence, Haman was filled with fury {chemah: intense wrath} against Mordechai.
10 But Haman restrained himself {vayit’apak: held himself back} and returned to his house. Then he summoned his friends {ohavav: close associates} and Zeresh his wife.
11 And Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches {oshro: personal wealth}, the great number of his sons {banav: male offspring}, and all that the king had done to make him great, and how he had lifted him above the princes and the king’s servants.
12 Haman said, “Moreover, Queen Esther {ester: Persian queen} brought no one with the king to the banquet {mishteh: lavish feast} she prepared except me; and tomorrow also I am invited by her with the king.”
13 Yet all this {vekol-zeh: lavish presentation} has no value to me as long as I keep seeing Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate {sha’ar: seat of authority}.
14 Zeresh, his wife, and all his friends said to him, “Let a pole {etz: execution stake} be constructed fifty cubits high, and in the morning speak to the king that Mordechai should be hanged on it. Then go with the king to the banquet, rejoicing {sameach: exultant celebration}.” The plan pleased Haman, and he had the pole constructed.