JOB 40

Job: What Can I Say?

1 Then the Lordsaid to Job,

2 “Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty?

Let him who disputes with God answer it.”

3 Then Job replied to the Lordand said,

4 “Behold, I am of little importanceandcontemptible; what can I reply to You?

I lay my hand on my mouth.

5 “I have spoken once, but I will not reply again–

Indeed, twice [I have answered], and I will add nothing further.”

God Questions Job

6 Then the Lordanswered Job out of the whirlwind, saying,

7 “Nowgird up your loins (prepare yourself) like a man,

And I will ask you, and you instruct Me.

8 “Will you really annul My judgmentandset it aside as void?

Will you condemn Me [your God] that you may [appear to] be righteousandjustified?

9 “Have you an arm like God,

And can you thunder with a voice like His?

10 “Adorn yourself with eminence and dignity [since you question the Almighty],

And array yourself with honor and majesty.

11 “Pour out the overflowings of your wrath,

And look at everyone who is proud and make him low.

12 Look at everyone who is proud, and humble him,

And [if you are so able] tread down the wicked where they stand.

13 “[Crush and] hide them in the dust together;

Shut them up in the hidden place [the house of death].

14 “[If you can do all this, Job, proving your divine power] then I [God] will also praise youandacknowledge

That your own right hand can save you.

God’s Power Shown in Creatures

15 “Behold now,Behemoth, which I created as well as you;

He eats grass like an ox.

16 “See now, his strength is in his loins

And his power is in the musclesandsinews of his belly.

17 “He sways his tail like a cedar;

The tendons of his thighs are twistedandknit together [like a rope].

18 “His bones are tubes of bronze;

Hislimbs are like bars of iron.

19 “He is the first [in magnitude and power] of the works of God;

[Only] He who made him can bring near His sword [to master him].

20 “Surely the mountains bring him food,

And all the wild animals play there.

21 “He lies down under the lotus plants,

In the hidden shelter of the reeds in the marsh.

22 “The lotus plants cover him with their shade;

The willows of the brook surround him.

23 “If a river ragesandoverflows, he does not tremble;

He is confident, though the Jordan [River] swells and rushes against his mouth.

24 “Can anyone capture him when he is on watch,

Or pierce his nose with barbs [to trap him]?

JOB 41

God’s Power Shown in Creatures

1 “Can you draw outLeviathan with a fishhook?

Or press down his tongue with a cord?

2 “Can you put a rope [made] of rushes into his nose

Or pierce his jaw through with a hook?

3 “Will he make many supplications to you [begging to be spared]?

Or will he speak soft words to you [to coax you to treat him kindly]?

4 “Will he make a covenantoran arrangement with you?

Will you take him for your servant forever?

5 “Will you play with him as with a bird?

Or will you bind him [and put him on a leash] for your maidens?

6 “Will traders bargain over him?

Will they divide him up among the merchants?

7 “Can you fill his skin with harpoons,

Or his head with fishing spears?

8 “Lay your hand on him;

Remember the battle [with him]; you will not do such [an ill-advised thing] again!

9 “Behold, his [assailant’s] hopeandexpectation [of defeating Leviathan] is false;

Will not one be overwhelmed even at the sight of him?

10 “No one is so fierce [and foolhardy] that he dares to stir up Leviathan;

Who then is he who can stand before Me [or dares to contend with Me, the beast’s creator]?

11 “Who has first given to Me that I should repay him?

Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine. [Who can have a claim against Me who made the unmastered beast?]

12 “I will not keep silence concerning his limbs,

Nor his mighty strength, nor his orderly frame.

13 “Who can penetrateorstrip off his outer armor?

Who can come to his jaws with a double bridle?

14 “Who can open the doors (jaws) of his face?

Around his [open jaws and] teeth there is terror.

15 “His strong scales are his pride,

Bound together as with a tight seal.

16 “One is so near to another

That no air can come between them.

17 “They are joined one to another;

They stick together and cannot be separated.

18 “His sneezes flash forth light,

And his eyes are like the [reddish] eyelids of the dawn.

19 “Out of his mouth go burning torches,

And sparks of fire leap out.

20 “Out of his nostrils smoke goes forth

As from a boiling pot and [as from]burningrushes.

21 “His breath kindles coals,

And a flame goes forth from his mouth.

22 “In Leviathan’s neck resides strength,

And dismayandterror dance before him.

23 “The folds of his flesh are joined together,

Firm on him and immobile [when he moves].

24 “His heart is as hard as a stone,

Indeed, as solid as a lower millstone.

25 “When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid;

Because of the crashing they are bewildered.

26 “The sword that reaches him cannot avail,

Nor [does] the spear, the dart, or the javelin.

27 “He considers iron as straw,

Bronze as rotten wood.

28 “The arrow cannot make him flee;

Slingstones are treated as stubble by him.

29 “Clubs [also] are regarded as stubble;

He laughs at the rushingandthe rattling of the javelin.

30 “His underparts are like sharp pieces of broken pottery;

He moves acrossandspreads out [grooves] like a threshing sledge on the mire (muddy river banks).

31 “He makes the deep water boil like a pot;

He makes the sea like a [foaming] pot of ointment.

32 “Behind him he makes a shining wake;

One would think the deep to be gray-haired [with foam].

33 “Upon earth there is nothing like him–no equal exists,

A creature made without fear.

34 “He looks on everything that is high [without terror];

He is monarch over all the sons of pride. [And now, Job,who are you who does not dare to disturb the beast, yet who dares resist Me, the beast’s creator? Everything under the heavens is Mine; therefore, who can have a claim against God?]”

JOB 42

Job’s Confession

1 Then Job answered the Lordand said,

2 “I know that You can do all things,

And that no thoughtorpurpose of Yours can be restrained.

3 “[You said to me] ‘Who is this that darkensandobscures counsel [by words] without knowledge?’

Therefore [I now see] I have [rashly] uttered that which I did not understand,

Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

4 ‘Hear, please, and I will speak;

I will ask You, and You instruct [and answer] me.’

5 “I had heard of You [only] by the hearing of the ear,

But now my [spiritual] eye sees You.

6 “Therefore I retract [my words and hate myself]

And I repent in dust and ashes.”

God Displeased with Job’s Friends

7 It came about that after the Lordhad spoken these words to Job, that the Lordsaid to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.

8 Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, and go to My servant Job, and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves, and My servant Job will pray for you. For I will accept him [and his prayer] so that I may not deal with youaccording to yourfolly, because you have not spoken of Me the thing that is right, as My servant Job has.”

9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the Lordtold them; and the Lordaccepted Job’s prayer.

God Restores Job’s Fortunes

10 The Lordrestored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the Lordgave Job twice as much as he had before.

11 Then all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before came to him, and they ate bread with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him over all the [distressing] adversities that the Lordhad brought on him. And each one gave him a piece of money, and each a ring of gold.

12 And the Lordblessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys.

13 He had seven sons and three daughters.

14 And he called the name of the first [daughter] Jemimah, and the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-happuch.

15 In all the land there were found no women so fair as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers.

16 After this, Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons and his grandsons, four generations.

17 So Job died, an old man and full of days.

ESTHER 1

The Banquets of the King

1 It was in the days of Ahasuerus (Xerxes) who reigned from India to Ethiopia (Cush) over 127 provinces,

2 in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne which was at the citadel inSusa [the capital of the Persian Empire],

3 in the third year of his reign he held a banquet for all his officials and his attendants. The armyofficersof Persia and Media, the nobles and the officials of the provinces were there in his presence.

4 And he displayed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the splendor of his great majesty for many days, 180 daysin all.

5 When these days were completed, the king held a banquet for all the people who were present at the citadel in Susa [the capital], from the greatest [in importance] to the least, a seven-day feast in the courtyard of the garden of the king’s palace.

6 There were curtains(draperies) of fine white and violet linen fastened with cords of fine purple linen to silver rings and marble columns. The couches of gold and silverrestedon a mosaic floor ofporphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and preciouscoloredstones.

7 Drinks were served in various kinds of golden goblets, and the royal wine was plentiful, in accordance with the generosity of the king.

8 The drinking wascarried onin accordance with the law; no one was compelled [to drink], for the king had directed each official of his household to comply with each guest’s wishes.

9 Queen Vashti also held a [separate] banquet for the women in the palace of King Ahasuerus.

Queen Vashti’s Refusal

10 On the seventh day, when the king’s heart was joyful with wine (in high spirits), he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas, the seveneunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus [as his attendants],

11 to bring Queen Vashti before the king,wearing her royal crown (high turban), to display her beauty before the people and the officials, for she was lovely to see.

12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command, which was delivered [to her] by the eunuchs. So the king became extremely angry and burned with rage.

13 Then the king spoke to the wise men who understood the times [asking for their advice]–for it was the custom of the kingto speakbefore all those who were familiar with law and legal matters–

14 and who were close to him [as advisors]: Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven officials of Persia and Media who had access to the king and were ranked highest in the kingdom.

15 [He said,] “According to the law, what is to be done with Queen Vashti because she did not obey the command of King Ahasueruswhich was conveyedby the eunuchs?”

16 And Memucan answered in the presence of the king and the officials, “Vashti the queen has not only wronged the king but [also] all the officials (royal representatives) and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.

17 For the queen’s conduct will become known to all women, causing them to look on their husbands with contempt (disrespect), since they will say, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she did not come.’

18 This [very] day the ladies of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s refusal will speak [in the same way] to all the king’s officials, and there will be plenty of contempt and anger.

19 If it pleases the king, let a royal command be issued by him and let it be written in the laws of the Persians and Medes so that it cannot be repealedormodified, that Vashti isno longer to come before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal position to another who is betterandmore worthy than she.

20 So when the king’s great decree is proclaimed throughout his [extensive] kingdom, all women will give honor to their husbands, from the great to the insignificant.”

21 This statement (advice) pleased the king and the officials, and the king did what Memucan proposed.

22 So he sent letters to all the royal provinces, to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language, saying that every man should be the masterandrule in his own home and thathe should speak [in the household] in the language of his own people.

ESTHER 2

Vashti’s Successor Sought

1 After these things, when the wrath of King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) had subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what had been decreed against her.

2 Then the king’s attendants, who served him, said, “Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king.

3 Let the king appoint administrators in all the provinces of his kingdom, and have them gather all the beautiful young virgins to the citadel in Susa, into the harem, under the custody of Hegai, the king’s eunuch, who is in charge of the women; and let their beauty preparations be givento them.

4 Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen in place of Vashti.” This pleased the king, and he did accordingly.

5 There was a certain Jew in the citadel of Susa whose name was Mordecai the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite,

6 who had been deported from Jerusalem with the captives who had been exiled with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had exiled.

7 He was the guardian ofHadassah, that is Esther, his uncle’s daughter, for she had no father or mother. The young woman was beautiful of form andface; and when her father and mother died, Mordecai took her in as his own daughter.

Esther Finds Favor

8 So it came about when the king’s command and his decree were proclaimed and when many young women were gathered together in the citadel of Susa into the custody of Hegai, that Esther was taken to the king’s palace [and placed] in the custody of Hegai, who was in charge of the women.

9 Now the young woman pleased Hegai and found favor with him. So he quickly provided her with beauty preparations and her [portion of] food, and he gave her seven choice maids from the king’s palace; then he transferred her and her maids to the bestplacein the harem.

10 Esther did not reveal [the Jewish background of] her people or her family, for Mordecai had instructed her not to do so.

11 Every day Mordecai [who was anattendant in the king’s court] walked back and forth in front of the courtyard of the harem to learn how Esther was getting along and what was happening to her.

12 Now when it was each young woman’s turn to go before King Ahasuerus, after the end of her twelve months under the regulations for the women–for the days of their beautification were completed as follows: six months with oil of myrrh and six months with [sweet] spicesandperfumes and the beauty preparations for women–

13 then the young woman would go before the king in this way: anything that she wanted was given her to take with her from the harem into the king’s palace.

14 In the evening she would go in and the next morning she would return to thesecond harem, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of theconcubines. She would not return to the king unless he delighted in her and she was summoned by name.

15 Nowas forEsther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai who had taken her in as his [own] daughter, when her turn came to go in to the king, she requested nothing except what Hegai the king’s eunuch [and attendant] who was in charge of the women, advised. And Esther found favor in the sight of all who saw her.

16 So Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, to his royal palace in the tenth month, that is, the month of Tebeth (Dec-Jan), in the seventh year of his reign.

Esther Becomes Queen

17 Now the king loved Esther more than all theotherwomen, and she found favor and kindness with him more than all the [other] virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen in the place of Vashti.

18 Then the king held a great banquet, Esther’s banquet, for all his officials and his servants; and he made afestival for the provinces and gave gifts in accordance with the resources of the king.

19 And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, Mordecaiwas sitting at the king’s gate.

20 Esther had not revealed her family or her people [that is, her Jewish background], just as Mordecai had instructed her; for Esther did what Mordecai told her just as when she was under his care.

Mordecai Saves the King

21 In those days, while Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who guarded the door, becameangry andconspired to attack King Ahasuerus.

22 But the plot became known to Mordecai, who informed Queen Esther, and Esther told the king in Mordecai’s name.

23 Now when the plot was investigated and foundto be true,both men werehanged on the gallows. And it was recorded in the Book of the Chronicles in the king’s presence.

ESTHER 3

Haman’s Plot against the Jews

1 After these things King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha theAgagite, and advanced him andestablished his authority over all the officials who were with him.

2 All the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate [in royal service] bowed down and honoredandpaid homage to Haman; for this is what the king had commanded in regard to him. But Mordecai [a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin] neither bowed down nor paid homage [to him].

3 Then the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate said to Mordecai, “Why are you disregarding the king’s command?”

4 Now it happened when they had spoken to him day after day and he would not listen to them, that they told Haman to see whether Mordecai’s reason [for his behavior] would stand [as valid]; for he had told them that he was a Jew.

5 When Haman saw that Mordecai neither bowed down nor paid homage to him, he was furious.

6 But he disdained laying hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told himwhothe people of Mordecai were (his nationality); so Haman determined to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, wholivedthroughout the kingdom of Ahasuerus.

7 In the first month, the month of Nisan (Mar-Apr), in thetwelfth year of King Ahasuerus, Haman cast Pur, that is, the lot, cast before him day after day [to find a lucky day to approach the king], month after month, until the twelfth month, the month of Adar (Feb-Mar).

8 Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered [abroad] and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different fromthoseof allotherpeople, and they do not observe the king’s laws. Therefore it is not in the king’s interest to [tolerate them and] let them stayhere.

9 If it pleases the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who carry out theking’sbusiness, to put into the king’s treasuries.”

10 Then the king removed his signet ring from his hand [that is, the special ring which was used to seal his letters] and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.

11 The king said to Haman, “The silver is given to you, and the peoplealso,to do with them as you please.”

12 Then the king’s scribes (secretaries) were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and it was written just as Haman commanded to the king’s satraps (chief rulers), and to the governors who were over each province and to the officials of each people, each province according to its script (writing), each people according to their own language; being written in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king’s signet ring.

13 Letters were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces to destroy, to kill and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, women and children, in one day, the thirteenth [day] of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar (March 7, 473b.c.), and to seize their belongings as plunder.

14 A copy of the edict to be decreed as law in every province was published to all the peoples, so that they would be ready for this day.

15 The couriers went out hurriedly by order of the king, and the decree was issued at the citadel in Susa. And while the king and Haman sat down to drink, the city of Susa was perplexed [by the unusual and alarming decree].

ESTHER 4

Esther Learns of Haman’s Plot

1 Now when Mordecai learned of everything that had been done, he tore his clothes [in mourning], and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the center of the city and cried out loudly and bitterly.

2 He went [only] as far as the king’s gate, because no one was to enter the king’s gate dressed in sackcloth.

3 In each and every province that the decree and law of the king reached, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing; and many lay on sackcloth and ashes.

4 When Esther’s maids and her eunuchs came and told her [what had happened], the queen was seized by great fear. She sent garments to clothe Mordecai so that he would remove his sackcloth, but he did not accept them.

5 Then Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs, whom the king had appointed to attend her, and ordered himto goto Mordecai to find out what this issue was and why it had come about.

6 So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the [open] square of the city, which was in front of the king’s gate.

7 Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, and the exactamount of money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the destruction of the Jews.

8 Mordecai also gave him a copy of the text of the decree which had been issued in Susa for the Jews destruction, so that he might show Esther and explain it to her, and order her to go in to the king to seek his favor and plead with him for [the lives of] her people.

9 Hathach came back and told Esther what Mordecai had said.

10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach and ordered himto replyto Mordecai, saying:

11 “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that for any man or woman who comes to the king to the inner court without being summoned, he has but one law, that he is to be put to death, unless the king holds out to him the golden scepter so that he may live. And as for me, I have not been summoned to come to the king for these [last] thirty days.”

12 So they told Mordecai what Esther had said.

13 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews.

14 For if you remain silent at this time, liberation and rescue will arise for the Jews from another place, and you and your father’s house will perish [since you did not help when you had the chance]. And who knows whether you have attained royalty for such a time as this [and for this very purpose]?”

Esther Plans to Intercede

15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai,

16 “Go, gather all the Jews that are present in Susa, and observe a fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids also will fast in the same way. Then I will go in to [see] the king [without being summoned], which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish.”

17 So Mordecai went away and did exactly as Esther had commanded him.

ESTHER 5

Esther Plans a Banquet

1 On the third day [of the fast] Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace opposite his [throne] room. The king was sitting on his royal throne, facing the [main] entrance of the palace.

2 When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she found favor in his sight; and the king extended to her the golden scepter which was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the top of the scepter.

3 Then the king said to her, “What istroublingyou, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given to you,up to half of the kingdom.”

4 Esther said, “If it pleases the king, may the king and Haman come this day to the banquet that I have prepared for him.”

5 Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly so that we may do as Esther says.” So the king and Haman came to the banquet which Esther had prepared.

6 As they drank their wine at the banquet, the king said to Esther, “What is yourpetition? It shall be granted to you. And what is your request? Even to half of the kingdom it shall be done.”

7 Then Esther replied, “My petition and my request is this:

8 if I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and to do as I request, may the king and Haman come to the banquet that I will prepare for them; and tomorrow I will do as the king says [and express my request].”

Haman’s Pride

9 Haman went away that day joyful and in good spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate refusing to stand up or show fear before him, he was filled with rage toward Mordecai.

10 Nevertheless, Haman controlled himself and went home. There he sent for his friends and his wife Zeresh.

11 Then Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, the large number of his sons, and everyinstancein which the king had magnified him and how he had promoted him over the officials and servants of the king.

12 Haman also said, “Even Queen Esther let no one but me come with the king to the banquet she had prepared; and tomorrow also I am invited by her [together] with the king.

13 Yet all of this does not satisfy me as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”

14 Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Have a gallowsfifty cubits high made, and in the morning ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it; then go joyfully to the banquet with the king.” And the advice pleased Haman, so he had the gallows made.

ESTHER 6

The King Plans to Honor Mordecai

1 On that nightthe king could not sleep; so he ordered that the book of recordsandmemorable deeds, the chronicles, be brought, and they were read before the king.

2 It was found written there how Mordecai had reported that Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who were doorkeepers, had planned toattack King Ahasuerus (Xerxes).

3 The king said, “What honor or distinction has been given Mordecai for this?” Then the king’s servants who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.”

4 So the king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king’s palace to ask the king abouthanging Mordecai on the gallows which he had prepared for him.

5 The king’s servants said to him, “Look, Haman is standing in the court.” And the king said, “Let him come in.”

6 So Haman came in and the king said to him, “What is to be done for the man whom the king desires to honor?” Now Haman thoughtto himself, “Whom would the king desire to honor more than me?”

7 So Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king desires to honor,

8 let a royal robe be brought which the king has worn, and the horse on which the king has ridden, and on whose head a royal crown has been placed;

9 and let the robe and the horse be handed over to one of the king’s most noble officials. Let him dress the man whom the king delights to honor [in the royal robe] and lead him on horseback through the open square of the city, and proclaim before him, ‘This is what shall be done for the man whom the king desires to honor.’”

Haman Must Honor Mordecai

10 Then the king said to Haman, “Quickly take the royal robe and the horse, as you have said, and do this for Mordecai the Jew, who is sitting at the king’s gate. Leave out nothing of all that you have said.”

11 So Haman took the royal robe and the horse and dressed Mordecai, and led himon horsebackthrough the open square of the city, proclaiming before him, “This is what shall be done for the man whom the king desires to honor.”

12 Then Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman hurried to his [own] house, mourning and with his head covered [in sorrow].

13 Then Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise counselors and his wife Zeresh said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fallin status,is of Jewish heritage, you will not overcome him, but will certainly fall before him.”

14 While they were still speaking with him, the king’s eunuchs (attendants) arrived and hurriedly brought Haman to the banquet which Esther had prepared.

ESTHER 7

Esther’s Plea

1 So the king and Haman came to drinkwinewith Esther the queen.

2 And the king said to Esther on the second day also as they drank their wine, “What is your petition, Queen Esther? It shall be granted to you. And what is your request? Even to half of the kingdom, it shall be done.”

3 Then Queen Esther replied, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be spared as my petition, and my people [be spared] as my request;

4 for we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, killed and wiped out of existence. Now if we had only been sold as slaves, men and women, I would have remained silent, for our hardship would not be sufficient to burden the king [by even mentioning it].”

5 Then King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) asked Queen Esther, “Who is he, and where is he, who dares to do such a thing?”

6 Esther said, “An adversary and an enemy is Haman, this evil man.” Then Haman became terrified before the king and queen.

Haman Is Hanged

7 Then in his fury, the king stood up from drinking wineand wentinto the palace garden [to decide what he should do]; but Haman stayed to plead for his life from Queen Esther, for he saw that harm had been determined against him by the king.

8 When the king returned from the palace garden to the place where they were drinking wine, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was. Then the king said, “Will he evenattempt toassault the queen with me in the palace?” As the king spoke those words, the servants covered Haman’s face [in preparation for execution].

9 Then Harbonah, one of the eunuchs serving the king said, “Now look, there are gallows fifty cubits (75 ft.) high standing at Haman’s house, which Haman made for Mordecai, whose good warning saved the king.” And the king said, “Hang him on it.”

10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s anger subsided.