Esther 5

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 wore her royal clothes and stood in the inner courtyard of the king's palace, facing it. The king sat on his throne in the palace, opposite the courtyard's entrance.

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 King saw Esther, the queen, in the courtyard, he liked her. He showed this by holding out a gold stick (scepter) towards her. Esther then went closer and gently touched the top of the gold stick.

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.

Then the king asked her, "What do you want, Queen Esther? And what is your request? I will give it to you - up to half of my kingdom."

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 replied, "If the king agrees, he and Haman should come today to the meal I've prepared for him."

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.

Then the king told Haman to hurry up and do what Esther asked. So, the king and Haman went to the party Esther had planned.

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.

The king asked Esther at their wine feast, "What do you want?" He promised to give it to her, and he would do almost anything she asked for in her request within his kingdom.

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

Then Esther replied, saying, My request is for the following:

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 the king likes me and agrees with my request, he and Haman should join the feast I'll set up for them. I'll follow the king's words tomorrow.

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.

Then, on that day, Haman left feeling happy and with a cheerful heart. However, when Haman saw Mordecai at the king's entrance and noticed he didn't bow or move for him, Haman became very angry at Mordecai.

Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.

Nevertheless, Haman didn't join them; when he returned home, he invited his friends and his wife, Zeresh.

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 bragged about his wealth, many children, and everything the king had done for him, including raising him higher than the king's other important people and helpers.

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.

Haman added, "Not only did Esther the queen not allow anyone else to join the king at the feast she prepared, but I am also invited to join her and the king tomorrow."

Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.

This means that even though everything else is going well, it doesn't matter to me as long as I keep seeing Mordecai, a Jewish man, sitting at the king's gate.

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.

Zeresh, his wife, and friends told him, "Build a 50-cubit tall gallows and tomorrow, convince the king to hang Mordecai on it. After that, go happily with the king to the feast." Haman liked this idea and built the gallows.