1. The king and Haman came in for the banquet with the queen.
2. On the second day of the party the king said to Esther, "What’s the reason for all this? What’s your purpose and your request? What do you want? I’ll do it for you, even to the point of giving you half the kingdom."
3. Esther answered, "If I please the king, grant my request that my life be spared—and my petition that the lives of my people be spared as well. That’s my desire,
4. because my people and I have been sold out to be killed, plundered, and enslaved—we and our children, to become slaves and female servants. The man who accuses us is not worthy to be in the king’s court!"