1. On the third day of her fast Esther put on her royal robes and went and stood in the inner courtyard of the palace, facing the throne room. The king was inside, seated on the royal throne, facing the entrance.
2. When the king saw Queen Esther standing outside, she won his favour, and he held out to her the gold sceptre. She then came up and touched the tip of it.
3. “What is it, Queen Esther?” the king asked. “Tell me what you want, and you shall have it — even if it is half my empire.”
4. Esther replied, “If it please Your Majesty, I would like you and Haman to be my guests tonight at a banquet I am preparing for you.”
5. The king then ordered Haman to come quickly, so that they could be Esther's guests. So the king and Haman went to Esther's banquet.