Haman impaled
1So the king and Haman went to Queen Esther’s banquet, 2and as they were drinking wine on the second day, the king again asked, ‘Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.’
3Then Queen Esther answered, ‘If I have found favour with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life – this is my petition. And spare my people – this is my request. 4For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed and annihilated. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king.7:4 Or quiet, but the compensation our adversary offers cannot be compared with the loss the king would suffer’
5King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, ‘Who is he? Where is he – the man who has dared to do such a thing?’
6Esther said, ‘An adversary and enemy! This vile Haman!’
Then Haman was terrified before the king and queen. 7The king got up in a rage, left his wine and went out into the palace garden. But Haman, realising that the king had already decided his fate, stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life.
8Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banqueting hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining.
The king exclaimed, ‘Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?’
As soon as the word left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. 9Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, ‘A pole reaching to a height of fifty cubits7:9 That is, about 23 metres stands by Haman’s house. He had it set up for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king.’
The king said, ‘Impale him on it!’ 10So they impaled Haman on the pole he had set up for Mordecai. Then the king’s fury subsided.
Binitay si Haman
1Dumalo sina Haring Ahasuerus at Haman sa inihandang hapunan ni Reyna Ester. 2At habang nag-iinuman sila, tinanong muli ng hari si Reyna Ester, “Ano ba talaga ang kahilingan mo? Sabihin mo na at ibibigay ko sa iyo kahit kalahati ng kaharian ko.” 3“Mahal na Hari, kung kalugod-lugod po ako sa inyo, iligtas po ninyo ako at ang mga kalahi kong Judio. Iyan ang kahilingan ko sa inyo. 4Dahil may gantimpalang ipinangako sa mga taong papatay sa amin. Kung ipinagbili po kami para maging alipin lang, magsasawalang-kibo na lang ako, dahil hindi iyon gaanong mahalaga para gambalain ko pa kayo.”
5Sinabi ni Haring Ahasuerus, “Sino ang nangahas na gumawa ng bagay na iyon at nasaan siya ngayon?” 6Sumagot si Ester, “Ang kumakalaban po sa amin at ang kaaway namin ay ang masamang si Haman.”
Takot na takot si Haman habang nasa harap ng hari at ng reyna. 7Galit na galit na tumayo ang hari. Iniwan niya ang kanyang iniinom at pumunta sa hardin ng palasyo. Naiwan si Haman na nagmamakaawa kay Reyna Ester dahil natitiyak niyang parurusahan siya ng hari.
8Pagbalik ng hari mula sa hardin, nakita niyang nakadapa si Haman na nagmamakaawa sa harap ng hinihigaan ni Ester. Kaya sinabi ng hari, “At gusto mo pang pagsamantalahan ang reyna rito sa loob ng palasyo ko!” Nang masabi iyon ng hari, dinakip ng mga naroon si Haman at tinalukbungan ang ulo7:8 tinalukbungan ang ulo: Maaaring palatandaan ito na papatayin siya. nito. 9Sinabi ni Harbona, isa sa mga lingkod ng hari, “Nagpagawa po si Haman ng matulis na kahoy para tuhugin si Mordecai, na nagligtas sa inyong buhay. Ang taas po ng kahoy ay 75 talampakan at malapit ito sa bahay ni Haman.” 10Kaya nag-utos ang hari, “Doon ninyo siya tuhugin!” At tinuhog nga nila si Haman doon sa ipinagawa niyang matulis na kahoy para kay Mordecai. At nawala ang galit ng hari.
