Esther 7

Esther Pleads for Her People

1So the kingH4428 and HamanH2001 wentH935 to dineH8354 withH5973 EstherH635 the queenH4436, 2and as they drankH4960 their wineH3196 on that secondH8145 dayH3117, the kingH4428 askedH559 once moreH1571, “QueenH4436 EstherH635, whatH4100 is your petitionH7596? It will be givenH5414 to you. WhatH4100 is your requestH1246? Even up toH5704 halfH2677 the kingdomH4438, it will be fulfilledH6213.”

3QueenH4436 EstherH635 repliedH6030, “IfH518 I have foundH4672 favorH2580 in your sightH5869, O kingH4428, and ifH518 it pleasesH2896 the kingH4428, grantH5414 me my lifeH5315 as my petitionH7596, and the lives of my peopleH5971 as my requestH1246. 4ForH3588 my peopleH5971 and IH589 have been sold outH4376 to destructionH8045, deathH2026, and annihilationH6. IfH432 we had merely been soldH4376 as menservantsH5650 and maidservantsH8198, I would have remained silentH2790, becauseH3588 noH369 such distressH6862 would justifyH7737 burdeningH5143 the kingH4428.”

5Then KingH4428 XerxesH325 spoke upH559 and askedH559 QueenH4436 EstherH635, “WhoH4310 is thisH2088, and whereH335H2088H1931 is the oneH1931 whoH834 wouldH4390H3820 deviseH62131 such a schemeH3651?”

6EstherH635H376 repliedH559, “The adversaryH6862 and enemyH341 is thisH2088 wicked manH7451—HamanH2001!”

And HamanH2001 stood in terrorH1204 beforeH6440 the kingH4428 and queenH4436.

The Hanging of Haman

7In his furyH2534, the kingH4428 aroseH6965 from drinkingH4960 his wineH3196 and went toH413 the palaceH1055 gardenH1594, while HamanH2001 stayed behindH5975 to begH1245 QueenH4436 EstherH635 forH5921 his lifeH5315, forH3588 he realizedH7200 thatH3588 the kingH4428 was planningH3615 a terrible fateH7451H854 for himH413.

8Just as the kingH4428 returnedH7725 from the palaceH1055 gardenH1594 toH413 the banquet hallH1004H4960H3196, HamanH2001 was fallingH5307 onH5921 the couchH4296 whereH834 EstherH635 was reclining. The kingH4428 exclaimedH559, “Would he actuallyH1571 assaultH3533 the queenH4436 whileH5973 I am in the palaceH1004?”

As soon as the wordsH1697 had leftH3318 the king’sH4428 mouthH6310, they coveredH2645 Haman’sH2001 faceH6440.

9Then HarbonahH2726, oneH259 ofH4480 the eunuchsH5631 attendingH6440 the kingH4428H1571, saidH559: “ThereH2009 is a gallowsH6086 fiftyH2572 cubitsH520 highH13642 at Haman’sH2001 houseH1004. He had it builtH6213 for MordecaiH4782, whoH834 gave the reportH1696 that savedH2896H5921 the kingH4428H5975.”

“Hang himH8518 on itH5921!” declaredH559 the kingH4428.

10So they hangedH8518 HamanH2001 onH5921 the gallowsH6086 he had preparedH3559 for MordecaiH4782. Then the furyH2534 of the kingH4428 subsidedH7918.