² When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the open space, she found favor in his eyes. The king held his special golden stick in his hand toward Esther. So Esther came near and touched the top of the special stick. ³ Then the king said to her, “What do you want, Queen Esther? What do you ask of me? You would be given even as much as half the nation.” ⁴ Esther said, “If it please the king, may the king and Haman come today to the special supper I have made ready for him.”