Esther 6

¹ That night the king could not sleep; he called for the Record Book, or Annals, to be brought and read tohim.

² They contained an account of how Mordecai had denounced Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king'seunuchs serving as Guards of the Threshold, who had plotted to assassinate King Ahasuerus.

³ 'And what honour and dignity', the king asked, 'was conferred on Mordecai for this?' 'Nothing has beendone for him,' the gentlemen-in-waiting replied.

⁴ The king then said, 'Who is outside in the antechamber?' Haman had, that very moment, entered theouter antechamber of the private apartments, to ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on the gal ows which hehad just put up for the purpose.

⁵ So the king's gentlemen-in-waiting replied, 'It is Haman out in the antechamber.' 'Bring him in,' the kingsaid,

⁶ and, as soon as Haman came in, went on to ask, 'What is the right way to treat a man whom the kingwishes to honour?' 'Whom', thought Haman, 'would the king wish to honour, if not me?'

⁷ So he replied, 'If the king wishes to honour someone,

⁸ royal robes should be brought from the king's wardrobe, and a horse from the king's stable, sporting aroyal diadem on its head.

⁹ The robes and horse should be entrusted to one of the noblest of the king's officers-of-state, who shouldthen array the man whom the king wishes to honour and lead him on horseback through the city square,proclaiming before him: "This is the way a man shall be treated whom the king wishes to honour." '

¹⁰ 'Hurry,' the king said to Haman, 'take the robes and the horse, and do everything you have just said toMordecai the Jew, who works at the Chancel ery. On no account leave out anything that you have mentioned.'

¹¹ So taking the robes and the horse, Haman arrayed Mordecai and led him on horseback through thecity square, proclaiming before him: 'This is the way a man shal be treated whom the king wishes to honour.'

¹² After this Mordecai returned to the Chancel ery, while Haman went hurrying home in dejection andcovering his face.

¹³ He told his wife Zeresh and al his friends what had just happened. His wife Zeresh and his friendssaid, 'You are beginning to fal , and Mordecai to rise; if he is Jewish, you will never get the better of him. Withhim against you, your fal is certain.'

¹⁴ While they were still talking, the king's officers arrived in a hurry to escort Haman to the banquet thatEsther was giving.