1On the third day Esther put on her royal robes. She stood in the inner court of the king's house, facing the king's house. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the royal house, facing the entrance of the house.
2When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she found favour in his eyes. The king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther came near and touched the top of the sceptre.
3Then the king said to her, "What do you want, queen Esther? What is your request? It will be given to you, even up to half the kingdom."
4Esther answered, "If it seems good to the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him."
5Then the king said, "Tell Haman to hurry, so that we may do as Esther has said." So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
6At the banquet of wine the king said to Esther, "What is your petition? It will be granted to you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be done."
7Then Esther answered and said, "My petition and my request is this:"
8"If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and to do what I ask, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I will prepare for them. Tomorrow I will do as the king has said."
9That day Haman went out joyful and glad in heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, and saw that he did not stand up or move for him, he was filled with anger against Mordecai.
10Even so, Haman held himself back. When he came home, he sent for his friends and Zeresh his wife.
11Haman told them about the glory of his riches, and how many children he had, and all the ways the king had promoted him, and how the king had raised him above the princes and servants of the king.
12Haman said also, "What is more, queen Esther let no one but me come in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared. And tomorrow I am invited to her house again, with the king."
13"Yet all this is worth nothing to me, as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate."