A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.

Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:

On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. {could...: Heb. the king's sleep fled away}

And said, If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing {seem} right before the king, and I {be} pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which {are} in all the king's provinces: {devised: Heb. the device} {which he...: or, who wrote}

She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue {is} the law of kindness.

And while they {were} yet talking with him, came the king's chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared.

On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. {could...: Heb. the king's sleep fled away}

And Esther answered, If {it seem} good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him.

So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen. {to banquet: Heb. to drink}

And said, If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing {seem} right before the king, and I {be} pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which {are} in all the king's provinces: {devised: Heb. the device} {which he...: or, who wrote}

Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive, and the banquet of them that stretched themselves shall be removed.

Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women {in} the royal house which {belonged} to king Ahasuerus.

And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it.

Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request: