Esther 2:17-19

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

¹⁷ the king loved Esther more than all the other women; of all the virgins she won his favor and devotion, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. 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.