Esther 5:1-8
Esther Prepares a Feast
5Now it happened aon the third day, that Esther put on her royal robes and stood bin the inner court of the king’s house in front of the king’s 1rooms, and the king was sitting on his royal throne in the 2throne room, opposite the entrance to his house. 2Now it happened that when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, ashe advanced in favor in his eyes; and bthe king extended to Esther the golden scepter which was in his hand. So Esther came near and 1reached out and touched the top of the scepter. 3Then the king said to her, “What is troubling you, Queen Esther? And what is 1your request? aEven to half of the kingdom it shall be given to you.” 4And Esther said, “If it seems good to the king, may the king and Haman come this day to the feast that I have prepared for him.”
5Then the king said, “aBring Haman quickly that we may do the word of Esther.” So the king and Haman came to the feast which Esther had prepared. 6Then, 1as they drank their wine at the feast, athe king said to Esther, “bWhat is 2your petition? For it shall be given to you. And what is 3your request? Even to half of the kingdom it shall be done.” 7So Esther answered and said, “1My petition and 2my request is: 8aif I have found favor in the eyes of the king, and if it seems good to the king to give heed to 1my petition and to do 2my request, may the king and Haman come to bthe feast which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do according to the word of the king.”