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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

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. 7 Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is; 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.

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. 10 Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife. 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. 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. 13 Yet all this availeth me nothing, so 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.

1 Op die derde dag het Ester haar koninklik aangetrek en gaan staan in die binneste voorhof van die paleis van die koning, teenoor die saal van die koning, terwyl die koning op sy koninklike troon sit in die koninklike saal, teenoor die ingang van die saal.

2 En net toe die koning koningin Ester in die voorhof sien staan, het sy genade in sy oë gevind; en die koning het die goue septer wat in sy hand was, na Ester uitgesteek; en Ester het nader gekom en die punt van die septer aangeraak.

3 Toe sê die koning vir haar: Wat wil jy hê, koningin Ester, of wat is jou versoek? Al was dit ook die helfte van die koninkryk -- dit sal jou gegee word.

4 Daarop antwoord Ester: As die koning dit goedvind, laat die koning dan vandag met Haman na die maaltyd kom wat ek vir hom berei het.

5 En die koning sê: Bring Haman gou, dat ons kan handel volgens die woord van Ester! En die koning en Haman het gegaan na die maaltyd wat Ester berei het.

6 En terwyl hulle wyn drink, sê die koning vir Ester: Wat is jou bede? -- dit sal jou toegestaan word. En wat is jou versoek? Al was dit ook die helfte van die koninkryk -- daaraan sal voldoen word.

7 Daarop antwoord Ester en sê: My bede en my versoek is:

8 As ek genade gevind het in die oë van die koning, en as die koning dit goedvind om my bede toe te staan en aan my versoek te voldoen, laat die koning en Haman na die maaltyd kom wat ek vir hulle sal berei, dan sal ek môre na die wens van die koning handel.

9 En op die dag het Haman bly en opgeruimd heengegaan; maar toe Haman Mordegai in die poort van die koning sien en dat hy nie opstaan of vir hom bevrees is nie, was Haman met woede vervul teen Mordegai.

10 Maar Haman het hom bedwing; en toe hy by sy huis kom, laat hy sy vriende en sy vrou Seres haal;

11 en Haman vertel hulle van die heerlikheid van sy rykdom en van die veelheid van sy seuns en van alles waarin die koning hom groot gemaak het en hoe hy hom verhef het bo die vorste en die dienaars van die koning.

12 Verder sê Haman: Selfs het koningin Ester niemand saam met die koning na die maaltyd laat kom wat sy aangerig het nie, as net vir my, en ook vir môre is ek deur haar genooi saam met die koning.

13 Maar dit alles baat my niks, solank as ek die Jood Mordegai in die poort van die koning sien sit.

14 Toe sê sy vrou Seres en al sy vriende vir hom: Laat hulle 'n galg van vyftig el hoog maak, en sê môre vroeg aan die koning dat hulle Mordegai daaraan moet ophang; gaan dan vrolik saam met die koning na die maaltyd. Di, woord het Haman geval, en hy het die galg laat maak.