1On the third day, Esther dressed in her royal clothes and stood in the inner courtyard of the king’s palace, facing the king’s living area. The king was sitting on his royal throne inside the royal palace, near the entrance.
2When the king saw Queen Esther standing in the courtyard, he was pleased with her. The king held out the golden royal scepter in his hand to Esther. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.
3Then the king asked her, “What do you want, Queen Esther? What is your request? I will give it to you, even up to half of the kingdom.”
4Esther replied, “If it pleases the king, I would like the king and Haman to come today to a banquet I have prepared for them.”
5Then the king said, “Quickly bring Haman, so we can do as Esther has asked.” So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared.
6While they were drinking wine at the banquet, the king said to Esther, “What is your petition? It will be granted to you. What is your request? It will be fulfilled, even up to half of the kingdom.”
7Then Esther answered, “My petition and my request are this:
8If I have found favor with the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, please come with Haman to another banquet I will prepare for you tomorrow. Then I will tell you what I want.”
9So Haman left that day joyful and happy. But when Haman saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and noticed that he didn't stand up or show him any respect, Haman became furious with Mordecai.
10Nevertheless, Haman controlled himself and went home. There, he sent for his friends and his wife Zeresh.
11Haman boasted to them about his great wealth, his many children, all the ways the king had promoted him, and how he had honored him above all the other officials and servants of the king.
12Haman also said, “What’s more, Queen Esther invited no one else but me to accompany the king to the banquet she prepared! And tomorrow, she has invited me again to join the king!”
13But Haman added, “All of this means nothing to me as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”
14Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends advised him, “Have a gallows built seventy-five feet high. In the morning, speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on it. Then you can go cheerfully with the king to the banquet.” This idea pleased Haman, so he had the gallows built.