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1 Now it happened on the third day, that Esther put on royalty and stood in the inner court of the palace of the king, opposite to the house of the king. Now the king was sitting on his royal throne in the royal palace, opposite to the entrance of the palace.
2 And it happened that, as soon as the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she lifted favor in his eyes. And the king held out to Esther the scepter of gold which was in his hand, so Esther approached and touched the head of the scepter.
3 And the king said to her, "What is to you, Esther the queen? And what is your request? As much as half of the kingdom, and let it be given to you."
4 And Esther said, "If it is good to the king, let the king come with Haman today to the banquet that I have made for him."
5 Then the king said, "Bring Haman quickly, in order to do the word of Esther." And the king came with Haman to the banquet that Esther had made.
6 Then the king said to Esther during the banquet of wine, "What is your petition? And let it be given to you. And what is your request? As much as half of the kingdom, and let it be done."
7 Then Esther answered and said, "My petition and my request:
8 if I have found favor in the eyes of the king, and if it is good to the king to grant my petition and to perform my request, let the king come with Haman to the banquet which I will make for them, and tomorrow I will do according to the word of the king."
9 And Haman went out that day joyful and good of heart. But as soon as Haman saw Mordecai at the gate of the king, that he neither rose up nor trembled from him, then Haman was filled with rage on account of Mordecai.
10 But Haman restrained himself and went to his house. Then he sent and brought his friends and Zeresh his wife.
11 Then Haman recounted to them the glory of his wealth, and the multitude of his sons, and all about how the king had made him great and how he had lifted him over the officials and administrators of the king.
12 And Haman said, "In addition, Esther the queen did not bring anyone with the king to the banquet that she had made except me. And also for tomorrow, I am called by her with the king.
13 But all of this is not equal for me to every time that I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the gate of the king."
14 Then Zeresh his wife, with all of his friends, said to him, "Let them make a tree fifty cubits high. And in the morning say to the king, and let them hang Mordecai on it. Then go with the king to the banquet joyful."And the word was good before the face of Haman, and he made the tree.
The Book of Esther