Esther 5
Esther put on her royal robes and entered the king’s court; the king extended his scepter and offered her up to half the kingdom. Esther invited the king and Haman to a banquet, then to a second banquet the next day. Haman went home rejoicing but was enraged again at Mordecai, and his wife urged him to build a gallows.
| v | King James Version | Modern English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house. | On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king's palace, opposite the king's hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the throne room, facing the entrance. |
| 2 | And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre. | When the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won favor in his sight. He held out to her the golden scepter that was in his hand. Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. |
| 3 | Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom. | The king asked, "What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given to you, even to half the kingdom." |
| 4 | And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him. | Esther said, "If it pleases the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet I have prepared for him." |
| 5 | Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared. | The king said, "Bring Haman quickly so that we may do as Esther has said." So the king and Haman came to the banquet Esther had prepared. |
| 6 | And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed. | While they were drinking wine, the king said to Esther, "What is your petition? It shall be granted to you. What is your request? Even to half the kingdom, it shall be fulfilled." |
| 7 | Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is; | Esther replied, "My petition and request is this: |
| 8 | If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to morrow as the king hath said. | If I have found favor in the king's sight and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet I will prepare for them. Tomorrow I will do as the king has said." |
| 9 | Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai. | Haman went out that day joyful and in good spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king's gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed any sign of respect for him, Haman was filled with rage against Mordecai. |
| 10 | Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife. | Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. He sent for his friends and his wife Zeresh, |
| 11 | And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king. | Haman told them about his vast wealth and his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored him and elevated him above the other officials and servants of the king. |
| 12 | Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to morrow am I invited unto her also with the king. | "Moreover," Haman said, "Queen Esther invited no one but me to accompany the king to the banquet she prepared, and tomorrow I am invited by her again along with the king. |
| 13 | Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate. | But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate." |
| 14 | Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made. | his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, "Have a gallows made fifty cubits high, and in the morning ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then go to the banquet with the king in good spirits." This pleased Haman. He had the gallows made. |