11 “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces* are aware that if any man or woman goes into the king’s inner courtyard+ without being summoned, there is only one law that applies: He is to be put to death; he may live only if the king holds out to him the golden scepter.+ And I have not been summoned to the king now for 30 days.”

4 The king held the golden scepter out to Esther,+ at which Esther rose and stood before the king.