Esther 2:18-20

New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition

¹⁸ Then the king gave a great banquet to all his officials and ministers—‘Esther’s banquet.’ He also granted a holiday^[a] to the provinces, and gave gifts with royal liberality.

Mordecai Discovers a Plot

¹⁹ When the virgins were being gathered together,^[b] Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate. ²⁰ Now Esther had not revealed her kindred or her people, as Mordecai had charged her; for Esther obeyed Mordecai just as when she was brought up by him.