Esther 6

¹ And upon the third day, when she had ended her prayers, she laid away her mourning garments, and put on her glorious apparel.

¹ On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.

² And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.

² And being gloriously adorned, after she had called upon God, who is the beholder and saviour of all things, she took two maids with her:

³ And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.

³ And upon the one she leaned, as carrying herself daintily;

⁴ And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.

⁴ And the other followed, bearing up her train.

⁵ And the king's servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in.

⁵ And she was ruddy through the perfection of her beauty, and her countenance was cheerful and very amiable: but her heart was in anguish for fear.

⁶ Then having passed through all the doors, she stood before the king, who sat upon his royal throne, and was clothed with all his robes of majesty, all glittering with gold and precious stones; and he was very dreadful.

⁶ So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself?

⁷ Then lifting up his countenance that shone with majesty, he looked very fiercely upon her: and the queen fell down, and was pale, and fainted, and bowed herself upon the head of the maid that went before her.

⁷ And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour,

⁸ Then God changed the spirit of the king into mildness, who in a fear leaped from his throne, and took her in his arms, till she came to herself again, and comforted her with loving words and said unto her,

⁸ Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head:

⁹ Esther, what is the matter? I am thy brother, be of good cheer:

⁹ And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour.

¹⁰ Thou shalt not die, though our our commandment be general: come near.

¹⁰ Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that thou has spoken.

¹¹ And so be held up his golden sceptre, and laid it upon her neck,

¹¹ Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.

¹² And embraced her, and said, Speak unto me.

¹² And Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered.

¹³ And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.

¹³ Then said she unto him, I saw thee, my lord, as an angel of God, and my heart was troubled for fear of thy majesty.

¹⁴ And while they were yet talking with him, came the king's chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared.

¹⁴ For wonderful art thou, lord, and thy countenance is full of grace.