3 Then the king said to her, "What is it, Queen Esther? What do you want? I’ll give you anything—even half the kingdom."
4 Esther answered, "If the king wishes, please come today with Haman for the feast that I have prepared for him."
5 "Hurry, get Haman," the king ordered, "so we can do what Esther says." So the king and Haman came to the feast that Esther had prepared.
6 As they sipped wine, the king asked, "Now what is it you wish? I’ll give it to you. What do you want? I’ll do anything—even give you half the kingdom."
7 Esther answered, "This is my wish and this is what I want:
8 If I please the king, and if the king wishes to grant my wish and my desire, I’d like the king and Haman to come to another feast that I will prepare for them. Tomorrow I will answer the king’s questions."
9 That day Haman left Esther’s place happy, his spirits high, but then he saw Mordecai in the King’s Gate. Mordecai neither stood up nor seemed the least bit nervous around him, so Haman suddenly felt great rage toward Mordecai.