¹⁸ I said to myself with regard to humans that God is testing^[a] them to show that they are but animals.^{(A) 19} For the fate of humans and the fate of animals is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and humans have no advantage over the animals, for all is vanity.^(B)

¹⁰ So they hung Haman on the pole that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the anger of the king abated.

¹¹ and Haman recounted to them the splendor of his riches, the number of his sons, all the promotions with which the king had honored him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and the ministers of the king.^{(A) 12} Haman added, “Even Queen Esther let no one but myself come with the king to the banquet that she prepared. Tomorrow also I am invited by her, together with the king.^{(B) 13} Yet all this does me no good so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”^{(C) 14} Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Let a pole fifty cubits high be made, and in the morning tell the king to have Mordecai hung on it; then go with the king to the banquet in good spirits.” This advice pleased Haman, and he had the pole made.^(D)