1
So the king and Haman went in to feast with Queen Esther.
2
And on the second day, as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king again said to Esther, 1"What is your wish, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? 2Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled."
3
Then Queen Esther answered, 3"If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be granted me for my wish, and my people for my request.
4
4For we have been sold, I and my people, 5to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. If we had been sold merely as slaves, men and women, I would have been silent, for our affliction is not to be compared with the loss to the king."
5
Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther, "Who is he, and where is he, who has dareda to do this?"
6
And Esther said, 6"A foe and enemy! This wicked Haman!" Then Haman was terrified before the king and the queen.
Haman Is Hanged
7
And the king arose in his wrath from the wine-drinking and went into 7the palace garden, but Haman stayed to beg for his life from Queen Esther, for he saw that harm was determined against him by the king.
8
And the king returned from 8the palace garden to the place where they were drinking wine, as Haman was falling on 9the couch where Esther was. And the king said, "Will he even assault the queen in my presence, in my own house?" As the word left the mouth of the king, they covered Haman's face.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)