Haman Is Punished
1 The king and Haman were dining with Esther 2 and drinking wine during the second dinner, when the king again said, “Esther, what can I do for you? Just ask, and I will give you as much as half of my kingdom!”
3 Esther answered, “Your Majesty, if you really care for me and are willing to help, you can save me and my people. That's what I really want, 4 because a reward has been promised to anyone who kills my people. Your Majesty, if we were merely going to be sold as slaves, I would not have bothered you.”
5 “Who would dare to do such a thing?” the king asked.
6 Esther replied, “That evil Haman is the one out to get us!”
Haman was terrified, as he looked at the king and the queen.
7 The king was so angry that he got up, left his wine, and went out into the palace garden.
Haman realized that the king had already decided what to do with him, and he stayed and begged Esther to save his life.
8 Just as the king came back into the room, Haman got down on his knees beside Esther, who was lying on the couch. The king shouted, “Now you're even trying to rape my queen here in my own palace!”
As soon as the king said this, his servants covered Haman's head. 9 Then Harbona, one of the king's personal servants, said, “Your Majesty, Haman built a gallows 22 meters high beside his house, so he could hang Mordecai on it. And Mordecai is the very one who spoke up and saved your life.”
“Hang Haman from his own gallows!” the king commanded. 10 At once, Haman was hanged on the gallows he had built to hang Mordecai, and the king calmed down.
Hāmāns krīt nežēlastībā
1 Ķēniņš un Hāmāns gāja dzert vīnu pie ķēniņienes. 2 Otrā dienā, vīnu dzerdams, ķēniņš teica: “Ko tu prasi, ķēniņiene Estere? Tas tev tiks dots! Ko tu vēlies? Pat pusi valsts tev došu!” 3 Ķēniņiene Estere atbildēja: “Ķēniņ, ja es esmu guvusi tavu vēlību, tad lai man dāvā dzīvību – to es prasu! Un manu tautu – to es vēlos! 4 Jo mani un manu tautu ir pārdevuši, lai nīdētu, kautu un izdeldētu. Ja mēs būtu pārdoti verdzībā, es klusētu, jo tā vēl nebūtu tik liela nelaime, ka jātraucē ķēniņš.”
5 Un ķēniņš Ahasvērs teica ķēniņienei Esterei: “Kurš sadūšojies tā darīt, un kur viņš ir?” 6 Estere teica: “Tas neģēlis un ienaidnieks ir ļaunais Hāmāns!” Tad Hāmānu ķēniņa un ķēniņienes priekšā pārņēma bailes. 7 Un ķēniņš dusmās cēlās no vīna dzeršanas un izgāja pils dārzā, bet Hāmāns palika izlūgties ķēniņienei Esterei dzīvību, jo viņš redzēja, ka ķēniņš lēmis ļaunu. 8 Kad ķēniņš no pils dārza atgriezās turp, kur dzēra vīnu, viņš ieraudzīja Hāmānu nokritušu pār Esteres guļvietu, un ķēniņš teica: “Vai tad pat manā namā un manā klātbūtnē šis klups virsū ķēniņienei?” Līdzko šie vārdi izskanēja no ķēniņa mutes, tā sargi apcietināja Hāmānu.
9 Un Harbona, kāds no einuhiem, kuri bija pie ķēniņa, teica: “Re, Hāmāna mājās stāv piecdesmit elkoņu augstas karātavas, kuras Hāmāns uzslējis Mordohajam – tam, kurš ķēniņam darījis labu.” Un ķēniņš teica: “Pakariet viņu!” 10 Tie pakāra Hāmānu karātavās, kuras viņš bija uzslējis Mordohajam. Tad ķēniņa dusmas rima.
