Greek Esther 6

New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised

Mordecai’s Reward from the King

6 That night the Lord took sleep from the king, so he gave orders to his secretary to bring the book of daily records, and to read to him. ² He found the words written about Mordecai, how he had told the king about the two royal eunuchs who were on guard and sought to lay hands on King Artaxerxes. ³ The king said, ‘What honour or dignity did we bestow on Mordecai?’ The king’s servants said, ‘You have not done anything for him.’ ⁴ While the king was inquiring about the goodwill shown by Mordecai, Haman was in the courtyard. The king asked, ‘Who is in the courtyard?’ Now Haman had come to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared. ⁵ The servants of the king answered, ‘Haman is standing in the courtyard.’ And the king said, ‘Summon him.’ ⁶ Then the king said to Haman, ‘What shall I do for the person whom I wish to honour?’ And Haman said to himself, ‘Whom would the king wish to honour more than me?’ ⁷ So he said to the king, ‘For a person whom the king wishes to honour, ⁸ let the king’s servants bring out the fine linen robe that the king has worn, and the horse on which the king rides, ⁹ and let both be given to one of the king’s honoured Friends, and let him robe the person whom the king loves and mount him on the horse, and let it be proclaimed through the open square of the city, saying, “Thus shall it be done to everyone whom the king honours.”’ ¹⁰ Then the king said to Haman, ‘You have made an excellent suggestion! Do just as you have said for Mordecai the Jew, who is on duty in the courtyard. And let nothing be omitted from what you have proposed.’ ¹¹ So Haman got the robe and the horse; he put the robe on Mordecai and made him ride through the open square of the city, proclaiming, ‘Thus shall it be done to everyone whom the king wishes to honour.’ ¹² Then Mordecai returned to the courtyard, and Haman hurried back to his house, mourning and with his head covered. ¹³ Haman told his wife Zosara and his friends what had befallen him. His friends and his wife said to him, ‘If Mordecai is of the Jewish people, and you have begun to be humiliated before him, you will surely fall. You will not be able to defend yourself, because the living God is with him.’

Haman at Esther’s Banquet

¹⁴ While they were still talking, the eunuchs arrived and hurriedly brought Haman to the banquet that Esther had prepared.