Esther 6

NEW JERUSALEM	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 That night the king could not sleep; he called for the Record Book, or Annals, to be brought and read tohim.	1 That night the king passed without sleep, and he commanded the histories and chronicles of former times to be brought him. And when they were reading them before him,
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.	2 They came to that place where it was written, how Mardochai had discovered the treason of Bagathan and Thares the eunuchs, who sought to kill king Assuerus.
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.	3 And when the king heard this, he said: What honour and reward hath Mardochai received for this fidelity? His servants and ministers said to him: He hath received no reward at all.
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.	4 And the king said immediately: Who is in the court? for Aman was coming in to the inner court of the king's house, to speak to the king, that he might order Mardochai to be hanged upon the gibbet which was prepared for him.
5 So the king's gentlemen-in-waiting replied, 'It is Haman out in the antechamber.' 'Bring him in,' the kingsaid,	5 The servants answered: Aman standeth in the court, and the king said: Let him come in.
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?'	6 And when he was come in, he said to him: What ought to be done to the man whom the king is desirous to honour? But Aman thinking in his heart, and supposing that the king would honour no other but himself,
7 So he replied, 'If the king wishes to honour someone,	7 Answered: The man whom the king desireth to honour,
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.	8 Ought to be clothed with the king's apparel, and to be set upon the horse that the king rideth upon, and to have the royal crown upon his 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." '	9 And let the first of the king's princes and nobles hold his horse, and going through the street of the city, proclaim before him and say: Thus shall he be honoured, whom the king hath a mind 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.'	10 And the king said to him: Make haste and take the robe and the horse, and do as thou hast spoken to Mardochai the Jew, who sitteth before the gates of the palace. Beware thou pass over any of those things which thou hast spoken.
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.'	11 So Aman took the robe and the horse, and arraying Mardochai in the street of the city, and setting him on the horse, went before him, and proclaimed: This honour is he worthy of, whom the king hath a mind to honour.
12 After this Mordecai returned to the Chancel ery, while Haman went hurrying home in dejection andcovering his face.	12 But Mardochai returned to the palace gate: and Aman made haste to go to his house, mourning and having his head covered:
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.'	13 And he told Zares his wife, and his friends, all that had befallen him. And the wise men whom he had in counsel, and his wife answered him: If Mardochai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou canst not resist him, but thou shalt fall in his sight.
14 While they were still talking, the king's officers arrived in a hurry to escort Haman to the banquet thatEsther was giving.	14 As they were yet speaking, the king's eunuchs came, and compelled him to go quickly to the banquet which the queen had prepared.