5:1Now on the third day Esther was clothed in royal garments, and stood in the court of the royal house, which was the inner one, opposite the king's hall: and he was sitting on his throne in the council-chamber of the palace opposite the door of the house. 5:2And when he had seen Queen Esther standing, she pleased his eyes, and he stretched out towards her the golden rod which he was holding in his hand: and she, approaching, kissed the top of his rod. 5:3And the king said to her: "What do you want, Queen Esther? 5:3What is your petition? 5:3Even if you ask for half of the kingdom, it will be given to you."
5:4But she answered: "If it pleases the king, I beg that you come to me today, and Haman with you, to the banquet which I have prepared." 5:5And at once the king: "Call Haman quickly," he said, "so that he may obey Esther's will." 5:5So the king and Haman came to the banquet which the queen had prepared for them. 5:6And the king said to her, after he had drunk wine abundantly: "What do you ask, that it may be given to you? 5:6And for what thing do you make request? 5:6Even if you ask for half of my kingdom, you will obtain it." 5:7Esther answered him: "My petition and my prayers are these: if I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to give me what I ask, and to fulfil my petition: let the king and Haman come to the banquet which I have prepared for them, and tomorrow I will open my wish to the king."
5:9So Haman went out that day glad and cheerful. 5:9And when he had seen Mordecai sitting before the doors of the palace, and that he not only had not risen up for him, but had not even moved from the place where he sat, he was very indignant: and, his anger concealed, having returned to his house, he called together to himself his friends, and Zeresh his wife, and set forth to them the greatness of his riches, and the crowd of his sons, and with how much glory the king had raised him above all his princes and servants. 5:12And after this he said: "Queen Esther too has called no one else to the banquet with the king except me: with whom tomorrow also I am to dine with the king.
5:13And though I have all these things, I think I have nothing, as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting before the royal doors." 5:14And Zeresh his wife and the other friends answered him: "Order a high beam to be prepared, having fifty cubits of height, and tell the king in the morning that Mordecai be hanged upon it, and so you will go glad with the king to the banquet." 5:14The counsel pleased him, and he ordered a high cross to be prepared.