< Esther 6 >

1 During that night, the sleep of the king fled, —and he commanded to bring in the book of remembrance, the chronicles, and they were read before the king.
That night the king was unable to get any sleep; and he sent for the books of the records; and while some one was reading them to the king,
2 And it was found written, how that Mordecai had told concerning Bigthana and Teresh, the two eunuchs of the king guarding the threshold, —who had sought to thrust forth a hand upon King Ahasuerus.
It came out that it was recorded in the book how Mordecai had given word of the designs of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's servants, keepers of the door, by whom an attack on the king had been designed.
3 Then said the king, What honour and dignity hath been done unto Mordecai, for this? Then said the king’s young men, who were ministering unto him, Nothing hath been done for him.
And the king said, What honour and reward have been given to Mordecai for this? Then the servants who were waiting on the king said, Nothing has been done for him.
4 Then said the king, Who is in the court? Now, Haman, had come into the outer court of the kings house, to speak unto the king, to hang Mordecai, upon the gallows which he had prepared for him.
Then the king said, Who is in the outer room? Now Haman had come into the outer room to get the king's authority for the hanging of Mordecai on the pillar which he had made ready for him.
5 So the king’s young men said unto him, Lo! Haman, standing in the court. And the king said, Let him come in.
And the king's servants said to him, See, Haman is waiting in the outer room. And the king said, Let him come in.
6 So Haman came in, and the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man in whose honour, the king delighteth? Then said Haman, in his own heart, Unto whom will the king delight to do honour, more than unto me?
So Haman came in. And the king said to him, What is to be done to the man whom the king has delight in honouring? Then the thought came into Haman's mind, Whom, more than myself, would the king have pleasure in honouring?
7 So Haman said unto the king, —As touching the man in whose honour, the king, delighteth,
And Haman, answering the king, said, For the man whom the king has delight in honouring,
8 let them bring in royal apparel wherewith the king hath clothed himself, —and the horse whereon the king hath ridden, and the royal crown which hath been set upon his own head;
Let them take the robes which the king generally puts on, and the horse on which the king goes, and the crown which is on his head:
9 and let the apparel and the horse be delivered unto the hand of one of the king’s rulers, one of the nobles, and so let them array the man, in whose honour, the king, delighteth, —and cause him to ride upon the horse through the broadway of the city, and let them proclaim before him, Thus and thus, shall it be done unto the man in whose honour, the king, delighteth!
And let the robes and the horse be given to one of the king's most noble captains, so that they may put them on the man whom the king has delight in honouring, and let him go on horseback through the streets of the town, with men crying out before him, So let it be done to the man whom the king has delight in honouring.
10 Then said the king unto Haman, Haste, take the apparel and the horse, just as thou hast said, and do even so unto Mordecai the Jew, who is sitting in the kings gate, —do not let fail a thing, of all which thou hast spoken!
Then the king said to Haman, Go quickly, and take the robes and the horse, as you have said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, who is seated at the king's doorway: see that you do everything as you have said.
11 So Haman took the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, —and caused him to ride through the broadway of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus and thus, shall it be done unto the man in whoso honour, the king, delighteth!
Then Haman took the robes and the horse, and dressing Mordecai in the robes, he made him go on horseback through the streets of the town, crying out before him, So let it be done to the man whom the king has delight in honouring.
12 Then Mordecai returned unto the gate of the king, —but, Haman, hurried unto his own house, mourning, and with covered head.
And Mordecai came back to the king's doorway. But Haman went quickly back to his house, sad and with his head covered.
13 And Haman recounted unto Zeresh his wife, and unto all his friends, everything that had befallen him. Then said his wise men, and Zeresh his wife, unto him, If, of the seed of the Jews, is Mordecai before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt, utterly fall, before him.
And Haman gave his wife Zeresh and all his friends an account of what had taken place. Then his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, If Mordecai, who is starting to get the better of you, is of the seed of the Jews, you will not be able to do anything against him, but you will certainly go down before him.
14 While yet they were speaking with him, the eunuchs of the king, had come, —and they hastened to bring Haman, unto the banquet which Esther had prepared.
While they were still talking, the king's servants came to take Haman to the feast which Esther had made ready.

< Esther 6 >