Esther 7

1So the king and Haman came to feast with Queen Esther. 2On this second day, as they drank wine, the king again asked Esther, “What is your petition, Queen Esther? It will be granted you. What is your request? Even if it is half the kingdom, it will be done.” 3Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, my king, and if it pleases the king, grant me my life: that is my petition. And grant me my people: that is my request. 4For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed, and wiped out. If we had only been sold as slaves, men and women, I would have kept quiet, because such trouble would not be worth disturbing the king.”

5King Ahasuerus demanded of Queen Esther, “Who is he? Where is the man who has dared to do such a thing?” 6Esther said, “An adversary and an enemy! This evil Haman!” Then Haman was terrified before the king and queen. 7In his rage the king got up from the wine feast and went out into the palace garden. But Haman stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life, for he saw that the king had already decided on his ruin. 8Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining. The king said, “Will he even assault the queen while I am in the house?” As soon as the words left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.

9Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, “There is also the gallows Haman made for Mordecai, the man who spoke up for the king. It stands at Haman’s house, about 75 feet high.” The king said, “Hang him on it!” 10So they hanged Haman on the gallows he had set up for Mordecai. Then the king’s anger died down.