⁴ “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”

“What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”^(A)

⁵ So Judas threw the money into the temple^(B) and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.^(C)

³ Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor^(A) 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. ⁴ For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed and annihilated.^(B) 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.^[a]”

⁵ King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, “Who is he? Where is he—the man who has dared to do such a thing?”

⁶ Esther said, “An adversary and enemy! This vile Haman!”

Then Haman was terrified before the king and queen. ⁷ The king got up in a rage,^(C) left his wine and went out into the palace garden.^(D) But Haman, realizing that the king had already decided his fate,^(E) stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life.

⁸ Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch^(F) where Esther was reclining.^(G)

The king exclaimed, “Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?”^(H)

As soon as the word left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.^{(I) 9} Then Harbona,^(J) one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, “A pole reaching to a height of fifty cubits^[b](K) 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!”^{(L) 10} So they impaled^(M) Haman^(N) on the pole^(O) he had set up for Mordecai.^(P) Then the king’s fury subsided.^(Q)

²³ When Ahithophel saw that his advice^(A) had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his house in order^(B) and then hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.