1 The king and Haman came to dine with queen Esther.2 The king said to Esther again on the second day, while they were drinking: »What is your petition, Queen Esther? For it will be given to you. What is your request? For it will be done, even to the half of my kingdom.«3 Esther the queen, answered: »If I have your approval, O king, and if it is the king's pleasure, let my life be given to me in answer to my petition. My people at my request:4 »For my people and I have been sold for slaughter and destruction. If we had been taken as men-servants and women-servants for a price, I would have said nothing, for our trouble is little in comparison with the king's loss.«5 Then King Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen: »Who is he and where is he who has had this evil thought in his heart?«6 Esther said: »Our hater and attacker is this evil Haman.« Then Haman was full of fear before the king and the queen.7 The king in his anger got up from the feast and went into the garden. Haman got to his feet to plead to Esther the queen for his life. He saw that the king had already decided against him.8 Then the king came back from the garden into the room where they had been drinking. Haman was stretched out on the seat where Esther was. Then the king said: »Is he taking the queen by force before my eyes in my house?« While the words were on the king's lips, they put a cloth over Haman's face.9 Then Harbonah, one of the court officials waiting before the king, said: »See, the pillar fifty cubits high, which Haman made for Mordecai, who said a good word for the king, is still in its place near Haman's house.« Then the king said: »Put him to death by hanging him on it.«10 So Haman was put to death by hanging him on the pillar he made for Mordecai. Then the king's rage subsided.

1 Entraram, pois, o rei e Hamã para se banquetearem com a rainha Ester.2 Ainda outra vez disse o rei a Ester, no segundo dia, durante o banquete do vinho: Qual é a tua petição, rainha Ester? e ser-te-á concedida; e qual é o teu rogo? Até metade do reino se te dará.3 Então respondeu a rainha Ester, e disse: Ó rei! se eu tenho alcançado o teu favor, e se parecer bem ao rei, seja-me concedida a minha vida, eis a minha petição, e o meu povo, eis o meu rogo;4 porque fomos vendidos, eu e o meu povo, para sermos destruídos, mortos e exterminados; se ainda por servos e por servas nos tivessem vendido, eu teria me calado, ainda que o adversário não poderia ter compensado a perda do rei.5 Então falou o rei Assuero, e disse à rainha Ester: Quem é e onde está esse, cujo coração o instigou a fazer assim?6 Respondeu Ester: Um adversário e inimigo, este perverso Hamã! Então Hamã ficou aterrorizado perante o rei e a rainha.7 E o rei, no seu furor, se levantou do banquete do vinho e entrou no jardim do palácio; Hamã, porém, ficou para rogar à rainha Ester pela sua vida, porque viu que já o mal lhe estava determinado pelo rei.8 Ora, o rei voltou do jardim do palácio à sala do banquete do vinho; e Hamã havia caído prostrado sobre o leito em que estava Ester. Então disse o rei: Porventura quereria ele também violar a rainha perante mim na minha própria casa? Ao sair essa palavra da boca do rei, cobriram a Hamã o rosto.9 Então disse Harbona, um dos eunucos que serviam diante do rei: Eis que a forca de cinqüenta côvados de altura que Hamã fizera para Mordecai, que falara em defesa do rei, está junto à casa de Hamã. Então disse o rei: Enforcai-o nela.10 Enforcaram-no, pois, na forca que ele tinha preparado para Mordecai. Então o furor do rei se aplacou.