¹⁰ Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home.

Calling together his friends and Zeresh,^(A) his wife, ¹¹ Haman boasted^(B) to them about his vast wealth, his many sons,^(C) and all the ways the king had honored him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials. ¹² “And that’s not all,” Haman added. “I’m the only person^(D) Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she gave. And she has invited me along with the king tomorrow. ¹³ But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.^(E)”

¹⁴ His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Have a pole set up, reaching to a height of fifty cubits,^[a](F) and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai impaled^(G) on it. Then go with the king to the banquet and enjoy yourself.” This suggestion delighted Haman, and he had the pole set up.

¹³ and told Zeresh^(A) his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him.

His advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, “Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall^(B) has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him—you will surely come to ruin!”^(C)