Greek Esther 7

Common English Bible

7 The king and Haman came in for the banquet with the queen. ² On the second day of the party the king said to Esther, “What’s the reason for all this? What’s your purpose and your request? What do you want? I’ll do it for you, even to the point of giving you half the kingdom.”

³ Esther answered, “If I please the king, grant my request that my life be spared—and my petition that the lives of my people be spared as well. That’s my desire, ⁴ because my people and I have been sold out to be killed, plundered, and enslaved—we and our children, to become slaves and female servants. The man who accuses us is not worthy to be in the king’s court!”

⁵ The king said, “Who is this person who dares to do such a thing?”

⁶ Esther replied, “The enemy is this wicked Haman!”

Haman was overcome with terror in the presence of the king and the queen. ⁷ The king got up and left the banquet for the palace garden, and Haman began to plead with Queen Esther, because he found himself in dire straits.

⁸ When the king returned from the palace garden, Haman had thrown himself upon the couch, pleading with the queen. The king said, “Will you even molest the queen in my own house?” Upon hearing this, Haman turned his face away in shame.

⁹ Bugathan, one of the eunuchs, said to the king, “Look, sir! Haman even prepared a pole for Mordecai, the man who gave information about the king. It’s standing at Haman’s house—seventy-five feet high.”

“Crucify Haman on it!” the king ordered. ¹⁰ So they hanged Haman on the pole that he had set up for Mordecai, and the king’s anger went away.