The Message Bible MSG
English Standard Version ESV
1 Three days later Esther dressed in her royal robes and took up a position in the inner court of the palace in front of the king's throne room. The king was on his throne facing the entrance.
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On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, in front of the king’s quarters, while the king was sitting on his royal throne inside the throne room opposite the entrance to the palace.
2 When he noticed Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased to see her; the king extended the gold scepter in his hand. Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.
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And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won favor in his sight, and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.
3 The king asked, "And what's your desire, Queen Esther? What do you want? Ask and it's yours - even if it's half my kingdom!"
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And the king said to her, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of my kingdom. ”
4 "If it please the king," said Esther, "let the king come with Haman to a dinner I've prepared for him."
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And Esther said, “If it please the king, let the king and Haman come today to a feast that I have prepared for the king. ”
5 "Get Haman at once," said the king, "so we can go to dinner with Esther."
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Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, so that we may do as Esther has asked. ” So the king and Haman came to the feast that Esther had prepared.
6 As they were drinking the wine, the king said, "Now, what is it you want? Half of my kingdom isn't too much to ask! Just ask."
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And as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king said to Esther, “What is your wish? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled. ”
7 Esther answered, "Here's what I want.
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Then Esther answered, “My wish and my request is:
8 If the king favors me and is pleased to do what I desire and ask, let the king and Haman come again tomorrow to the dinner that I will fix for them. Then I'll give a straight answer to the king's question."
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If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my wish and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come to the feast that I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said. ”
9 Haman left the palace that day happy, beaming. And then he saw Mordecai sitting at the King's Gate ignoring him, oblivious to him. Haman was furious with Mordecai.
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And Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he neither rose nor trembled before him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai.
10 But he held himself in and went on home. He got his friends together with his wife Zeresh
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Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and brought his friends and his wife Zeresh.
11 and started bragging about how much money he had, his many sons, all the times the king had honored him, and his promotion to the highest position in the government.
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And Haman recounted to them the splendor of his riches, the number of his sons, all the promotions with which the king had honored him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and the servants of the king.
12 "On top of all that," Haman continued, "Queen Esther invited me to a private dinner she gave for the king, just the three of us. And she's invited me to another one tomorrow.
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Then Haman said, “Even Queen Esther let no one but me come with the king to the feast she prepared. And tomorrow also I am invited by her together with the king.
13 But I can't enjoy any of it when I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the King's Gate."
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Yet all this is worth nothing to me, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate. ”
14 His wife Zeresh and all his friends said, "Build a gallows seventy-five feet high. First thing in the morning speak with the king; get him to order Mordecai hanged on it. Then happily go with the king to dinner." Haman liked that. He had the gallows built.
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Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows fifty cubits high be made, and in the morning tell the king to have Mordecai hanged upon it. Then go joyfully with the king to the feast. ” This idea pleased Haman, and he had the gallows made.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025