Esther 6
1 But the Lord removed sleep from the
king that night: and he told his servant to bring in the books, the registers
of daily events, to read to him. 2 And
he found the records written concerning Mardochæus, how he had told the king
concerning the two chamberlains of the king, when they were keeping guard, and
sought to lay hands on Artaxerxes.
3 And the king said, What honour or
favour have we done to Mardochæus? And the king's servants said, Thou hast not
done anything to him. 4 And while the
king was enquiring about the kindness of Mardochæus, behold, Aman
was in the court. And the king said, Who
is in the court? Now Aman was come in to speak to the
king, that he should hang Mardochæus on the gallows, which he had prepared.
5 And the king's servants said,
Behold, Aman stands in the court. And the king said, Call him.
6 And the king said to Aman, What
shall I do to the man whom I wish to honour? And Aman said within himself,
Whom would the king honour but myself?
7 and he said to the king, As for the
man whom the king wishes to honour,
8 let the king's servants bring the
robe of fine linen which the king puts on, and the horse on which the king
rides, 9 and let him give
it to one of the king's noble friends, and let him
array the man whom the king loves; and let him mount him on the horse, and
proclaim through the street of the city, saying, Thus shall it be
done to every man whom the king honours.
10 Then the king said to Aman, Thou
hast well said: so do to Mardochæus the Jew, who waits in the palace, and let
not a word of what thou hast spoken be neglected.
11 So Aman took the robe and the
horse, and arrayed Mardochæus, and mounted him on the horse, and went through
the street of the city, and proclaimed, saying, Thus shall it be to every man
whom the king wishes to honour.
12 And Mardochæus returned to the
palace: but Aman went home mourning, and having his head covered.
13 And Aman related the events that
had befallen him to Zosara his wife, and to
his friends: and his friends and his wife said to
him, If Mardochæus be of the race of the Jews,
and thou hast begun to be humbled before him, thou
wilt assuredly fall, and thou wilt not be able to withstand him, for the
living God is with him.
14 While they were yet speaking, the
chamberlains arrived, to hasten Aman to the banquet which Esther had prepared.