Esther 6

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 That night the king could not sleep; he called for the Record Book, or Annals, to be brought and read tohim.	1 And this was the text of the letter: “Artaxerxes, the great king from India all the way to Ethiopia, to the leaders and generals of the one hundred twenty-seven provinces, which are subject to his authority, greetings.
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 Although I have reigned over many nations and subjugated the whole world under my realm, I was by no means willing to abuse the greatness of this power, but to govern my subjects with clemency and leniency, so that they would settle into a quiet life, apart from any terror, and delight in peace, as all mortals would choose to do.
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 Yet, in asking my counselors how this might be able to be accomplished, one who excelled the others in wisdom and fidelity, and who was second after the king, named Haman,
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 explained to me that there was a people, scattered throughout the whole world, that used strange laws, and, acting against the customs of all peoples, despised the commandments of kings and violated the harmony of all nations with their dissension.
5 So the king's gentlemen-in-waiting replied, 'It is Haman out in the antechamber.' 'Bring him in,' the kingsaid,	5 When we had learned this, seeing one nation rebellious against all mankind, having overthrown the usefulness of laws, and going against our orders, and disturbing the peace and harmony of the provinces subject to us,
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 we commanded that whomever Haman, who is chief over all the provinces, and second after the king, and whom we honor in the place of a father, whomever he would point out should be destroyed by their enemies, with their wives and children, and that no one may take pity on them, on the fourteenth day of the twelfth month Adar of this present year,
7 So he replied, 'If the king wishes to honour someone,	7 so that these guilty men, all on one day, may go down to the underworld, restoring to our empire the peace that they had disturbed.”
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 And the effect of the letters was this: that all provinces would know and prepare for the prescribed day.
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 couriers, who had been sent, hurried to complete the king’s command, but the edict was hung up in Susa immediately. And the king and Haman celebrated a feast, while all the Jews in the city were weeping.
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.