Esther 6

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
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, unable to sleep, asked that the chronicle of notable events be brought in. While this was being read to 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 the passage occurred in which Mordecai reported Bagathan and Teresh, two of the royal eunuchs who guarded the entrance, for seeking to lay hands on 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.	3 The king asked, "What was done to reward and honor Mordecai for this?" The king's attendants replied, "Nothing was done for him."
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 "Who is in the court?" the king asked. Now Haman had entered the outer court of the king's palace to suggest to the king that Mordecai should be hanged on the gibbet he had raised 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 king's servants answered him, "Haman is waiting in the court." "Let him come in," the king said.
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 When Haman entered, the king said to him, "What should be done for the man whom the king wishes to reward?" Now Haman thought to himself, "Whom would the king more probably wish to reward than me?"
7 So he replied, 'If the king wishes to honour someone,	7 So he replied to the king: "For the man whom the king wishes to reward
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 there should be brought the royal robe which the king wore and the horse on which the king rode when the royal crown was placed on 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 The robe and the horse should be consigned to one of the noblest of the king's officials, who must clothe the man the king wishes to reward, have him ride on the horse in the public square of the city, and cry out before him, "This is what is done for the man whom the king wishes to reward!' "
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 Then the king said to Haman: "Hurry! Take the robe and horse as you have proposed, and do this for the Jew Mordecai, who is sitting at the royal gate. Do not omit anything you proposed."
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 Haman took the robe and horse, clothed Mordecai, had him ride in the public square of the city, and cried out before him, "This is what is done for the man whom the king wishes to reward!"
12 After this Mordecai returned to the Chancel ery, while Haman went hurrying home in dejection andcovering his face.	12 Mordecai then returned to the royal gate, while Haman hurried home, his head covered in grief.
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 When he told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him, his advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, "If Mordecai, before whom you are beginning to decline, is of the Jewish race, you will not prevail against him, but will surely be defeated by him."
14 While they were still talking, the king's officers arrived in a hurry to escort Haman to the banquet thatEsther was giving.	14 While they were speaking with him, the king's eunuchs arrived and hurried Haman off to the banquet Esther had prepared.