Esther 5 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

On the third day, Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner courtyard of the palace, facing the king's hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance.

When the king saw Queen Esther standing in the courtyard, she won his favor. The king extended the golden scepter in his hand toward Esther, and Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.

The king asked her, "What is it, Queen Esther? What do you want? Even up to half the kingdom — it's yours."

Esther answered, "If it pleases the king, let the king and Haman come today to a banquet I've prepared for him."

The king said, "Get Haman immediately so we can do what Esther asks." So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared.

While they were drinking wine at the banquet, the king said to Esther, "So what's your request? It will be granted. What do you want? Even up to half the kingdom — it's yours."

Esther replied, "My request — what I really want —

if I've found favor with the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my request and do what I want — let the king and Haman come to another banquet I'll prepare for them tomorrow. Then I'll answer the king's question."

Haman left that day happy and in great spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king's gate — and Mordecai didn't stand up or even flinch at his presence — Haman was filled with rage toward him.

But Haman held himself back. He went home and called together his friends and his wife Zeresh.

Haman bragged to them about his enormous wealth, his many sons, and every way the king had promoted and elevated him above all the other officials and servants.

"On top of all that," Haman added, "Queen Esther didn't invite anyone except me to come with the king to the banquet she prepared. And I'm invited back again tomorrow with the king!

But none of this means anything to me as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king's gate."

His wife Zeresh and all his friends told him, "Have a stake set up — seventy-five feet tall — and in the morning, tell the king to have Mordecai impaled on it. Then you can go to the banquet with the king in a good mood." Haman liked the idea, so he had the stake set up.