1 ARST Three days later, Esther{ and her servants prepared a grand banquet. Then she} put on her royal robes, and she{ went and} stood in the inner courtyard of the palace, across from the king’ s house. He was in the royal palace, sitting on the royal throne and facing the entrance of the room. BSB BSB: On the third day, Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace across from the king’s quarters. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the royal courtroom, facing the entrance.
2 ARST As soon as the king noticed Queen Esther standing there in the courtyard, he was very pleased to see her. So he held out his golden scepter to her,{ to show that she could safely approach him}. So Esther came up{ to the throne} and touched the top of the scepter. BSB BSB: As soon as the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she found favor in his sight. The king extended the gold scepter in his hand toward Esther, and she approached and touched the tip of the scepter.
3 ARST Then the king asked her,“Why have you come here, Queen Esther? What do you want?{ Tell me, and} I will give you anything you ask for, no matter how great it is.” BSB BSB: “What is it, Queen Esther?” the king inquired. “What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given to you.”
4 ARST Esther replied,“If it pleases you, O king, please come with Haman today to the banquet that I have prepared for you.” BSB BSB: “If it pleases the king,” Esther replied, “may the king and Haman come today to the banquet I have prepared for the king.”
5 ARST The king said to his servants,“{ Go and} get Haman and bring him quickly so that we can do what Esther has asked us to do!” So the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther{ and her servants} had prepared{ for them}. BSB BSB: “Hurry,” commanded the king, “and bring Haman, so we can do as Esther has requested.” So the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
6 ARST While they were drinking wine, the king said to Esther,“Now please tell me what you{ really} want. I will give you anything{ you ask for}, no matter how great it is. I truly mean what I am saying.” BSB BSB: And as they drank their wine, the king said to Esther, “What is your petition? It will be given to you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be fulfilled.”
7 ARST Esther answered,“This is what I{ really} want: BSB BSB: Esther replied, “This is my petition and my request:
8 ARST if you are pleased with me, and if you are pleased, O king, to give me what I want, please come with Haman to{ another} banquet that I will prepare for you tomorrow. I will answer your question then.” BSB BSB: If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, may the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.”
9 ARST Haman was feeling very happy as he left{ the banquet that day}. But then he saw Mordecai sitting at the king’ s gate. Mordecai did not stand up to show respect for Haman or tremble fearfully in front of him. This made Haman furious with Mordecai. BSB BSB: That day Haman went out full of joy and glad of heart. At the king’s gate, however, he saw Mordecai, who did not rise or tremble in fear at his presence. And Haman was filled with rage toward Mordecai.
10 ARST But{ even though} Haman{ was so angry, he} kept himself from showing that he was angry.{ Instead,} he went home and gathered together his friends with his wife Zeresh, BSB BSB: Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. And calling for his friends and his wife Zeresh,
11 ARST and he boasted to them about how rich he was and about how many sons he had.{ He} also{ boasted} about how the king had promoted him many times and given him a position above all of his other officials and administrators. BSB BSB: Haman recounted to them his glorious wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored and promoted him over the other officials and servants.
12 ARST Then Haman added,“And that is not all! I was the only one Queen Esther invited to come with the king to a banquet that she prepared{ for us today}. And she has also invited only me{ to attend another banquet} with the king tomorrow.” BSB BSB: “What is more,” Haman added, “Queen Esther invited no one but me to join the king at the banquet she prepared, and I am invited back tomorrow along with the king.
13 ARST Then Haman said,“But I still cannot be happy as long as I keep seeing that Jew, Mordecai, sitting there at the king’ s gate{ and refusing to honor me}.” BSB BSB: Yet none of this satisfies me as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”
14 ARST So Haman’ s wife Zeresh and his friends who were there suggested,“Have your servants set up a pole 25 meters high. Then tomorrow morning speak to the king and tell him that you want to hang Mordecai on it. Then{ once you have executed Mordecai,} you can go to the banquet with the king in a good mood.” Haman thought that this was a good plan, so he{ told his servants to} set up the pole. BSB BSB: His wife Zeresh and all his friends told him, “Have them build a gallows 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.” The advice pleased Haman, and he had the gallows constructed.
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