for a second time. Over the wine the king asked her again, "Now, Queen Esther, what do you want? Tell me and you shall have it. I'll even give you half the empire."

He then said to Queen Esther, "In Susa alone the Jews have killed five hundred people, including Haman's ten sons. What must they have done out in the provinces! What do you want now? You shall have it. Tell me what else you want, and you shall have it."

She said, "I have a small favor to ask of you; please do not refuse me." "What is it, mother?" he asked. "I will not refuse you."

That night the LORD appeared to him in a dream and asked him, "What would you like me to give you?"

Then the wife of Zebedee came to Jesus with her two sons, bowed before him, and asked him for a favor.

"You don't know what you are asking for," Jesus answered the sons. "Can you drink the cup of suffering that I am about to drink?" "We can," they answered.

"What do you want me to do for you?" "Sir," he answered, "I want to see again."

Over the wine the king asked her, "Tell me what you want, and you shall have it. I will grant your request, even if you ask for half my empire."

With many vows he said to her, "I swear that I will give you anything you ask for, even as much as half my kingdom!"