Esther · Majority Standard Bible
Esther 5 Majority Standard Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 On the third day, Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace across from the king’s quarters. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the royal courtroom, facing the entrance.
1 Now on the third day, Esther put on her royal clothing and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, next to the king’s house. The king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, next to the entrance of the house.
2 As soon as the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she found favor in his sight. The king extended the gold scepter in his hand toward Esther, and she approached and touched the tip of the scepter.
2 When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight; and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther came near and touched the top of the scepter.
3 “What is it, Queen Esther?” the king inquired. “What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given to you.”
3 Then the king asked her, “What would you like, queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you even to the half of the kingdom.”
4 “If it pleases the king,” Esther replied, “may the king and Haman come today to the banquet I have prepared for the king.”
4 Esther said, “If it seems good to the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him.”
5 “Hurry,” commanded the king, “and bring Haman, so we can do as Esther has requested.” So the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
5 Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, so that it may be done as Esther has said.” So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
6 And as they drank their wine, the king said to Esther, “What is your petition? It will be given to you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be fulfilled.”
6 The king said to Esther at the banquet of wine, “What is your petition? It shall be granted you. What is your request? Even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.”
7 Esther replied, “This is my petition and my request:
7 Then Esther answered and said, “My petition and my request is this.
8 If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, may the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.”
8 If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I will prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as the king has said.”
9 That day Haman went out full of joy and glad of heart. At the king’s gate, however, he saw Mordecai, who did not rise or tremble in fear at his presence. And Haman was filled with rage toward Mordecai.
9 Then Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart, but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he didn’t stand up nor move for him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai.
10 Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. And calling for his friends and his wife Zeresh,
10 Nevertheless Haman restrained himself, and went home. There, he sent and called for his friends and Zeresh his wife.
11 Haman recounted to them his glorious wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored and promoted him over the other officials and servants.
11 Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, the multitude of his children, all the things in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.
12 “What is more,” Haman added, “Queen Esther invited no one but me to join the king at the banquet she prepared, and I am invited back tomorrow along with the king.
12 Haman also said, “Yes, Esther the queen let no man come in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and tomorrow I am also invited by her together with the king.
13 Yet none of this satisfies me as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”
13 Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”
14 His wife Zeresh and all his friends told him, “Have them build a gallows fifty cubits high, and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then go to the banquet with the king and enjoy yourself.” The advice pleased Haman, and he had the gallows constructed.
14 Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows be made fifty cubits high, and in the morning speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on it. Then go in merrily with the king to the banquet.” This pleased Haman, so he had the gallows made.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Esther
Hadassah, an orphan raised by her cousin Mordecai, was made queen in place of Vashti; she risked her life to plead for her people, exposed Haman, and with Mordecai confirmed the…
Cited in the guide: Esther 2:7; Esther 2:17; Esther 5:2
Zeresh
Haman’s wife, who with his friends advised building a gallows fifty cubits high for Mordecai and later warned Haman he would fall before him.
Cited in the guide: Esther 5:10; Esther 5:14; Esther 6:13
Cross references (13)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Esther 6:4; Esther 4:16; 1 Peter 3:3–5; Revelation 3:21; Esther 8:15
- 2 Esther 8:4; Esther 4:11; Proverbs 21:1; Esther 2:9; Acts 7:10
- 3 Mark 6:23; Esther 7:2; Esther 9:12; Esther 5:6; Matthew 20:20–22
- 4 Esther 5:8; Proverbs 29:11; 1 Corinthians 14:20; Esther 3:15; Psalm 112:5
- 5 Esther 6:14
- 6 Esther 7:2; Esther 5:3; Esther 9:12
- 8 Proverbs 16:9; Esther 7:3; Esther 8:5; Esther 6:1–14
- 9 Esther 3:5; Matthew 2:16; Job 20:5; Amos 6:12–13; Daniel 3:16–19
- 10 Esther 6:13; Ecclesiastes 7:9; Genesis 45:1; 2 Samuel 13:22–23; Genesis 43:30–31
- 11 Esther 9:7–10; Esther 3:1; Luke 12:19–20; Genesis 31:1; 1 Timothy 6:17
- 12 Proverbs 27:1; Psalm 37:35–36; Luke 21:34–35; 1 Thessalonians 5:3; Job 20:5–8
- 13 Philippians 4:11–12; Job 15:20; Job 18:4; 1 Kings 21:4–6; Ecclesiastes 1:2
- 14 Esther 6:4; Esther 7:9–10; Psalm 37:14; 1 Kings 21:7; Psalm 37:32
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences