The Book of Esther
As found in the Greek Septuagint
GNB
Chapters 6-7
Esther 6:1 That night the Lord kept the king from sleeping, so the king ordered his private secretary to bring the official records of the empire and read them to him.
Esther 6:2 He read the account of how Mordecai had uncovered a plot to assassinate the king-the plot made by the two eunuchs who served as palace guards.
Esther 6:3 The king asked, "How have we honored and rewarded Mordecai for this?" His servants answered, "You have done nothing for him."
Esther 6:4 Now just as the king was inquiring about Mordecai's good deed, Haman entered the courtyard. He had come to ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on the gallows that was not ready. "Who is that in the courtyard?" the king asked.
Esther 6:5 The servants answered, "It is Haman; he is waiting to see you." "Show him in." said the king.
Esther 6:6 So Haman came in, and the king said to him, "There is someone I wish very much to honor. What should I do for this man?"
Esther 6:7-8 So he answered the king, "Let the royal servants bring a fine linen robe for this man-one that you yourself wear. And let them bring a horse that you yourself ride.
Esther 6:9 Then put that robe on the man you like so much and then have the nobleman lead him, mounted on the horse, through the city square. Have the nobleman announce as they go: 'See how the king rewards a man whom he wishes to honor!'"
Esther 6:10 Then the king said to Haman, "Fine! Do all that for Mordecai the Jew, who holds a high position in the palace; don't leave out a thing."
Esther 6:11 So Haman got the robe and the horse, and he put the robe on Mordecai. Mordecai got on the horse, and Haman led him through the city square, announcing to the people as they went: "See how the king rewards a man whom he wishes to honor!"
Esther 6:12 Mordecai then went back to the courtyard while Haman hurried home, covering his face in embarrassment.
Esther 6:13 He told his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then they all said to him, "You are beginning to lose power to Mordecai. He is a Jew, and you cannot overcome him. He will certainly defeat you, for the living God is with him!"
Esther 6:14 While they were still talking, the palace eunuchs arrived to take Haman to Esther's banquet.
Esther 7:1 And so the king and Haman went to eat with Esther
Esther 7:2 for a second time. Over the wine the king asked her again, "Now, Queen Esther, what do you want? Tell me and you shall have it. I'll even give you half the empire."
Esther 7:3 Queen Esther answered, "If it please Your Majesty to grant my humble request, my wish is that I may live and that my people may live.
Esther 7:4 My people and I have been sold into slavery; our possessions have been plundered, and now we are to be destroyed-all of us, including our children, will be slaves-and so far I have kept quiet. It isn't right that our enemy should be a member of the royal court."
Esther 7:5 Then King Xerxes asked Esther, "Who dares to do such a thing?"
Esther 7:6 Esther answered, "Our enemy is this evil man Haman!" In terror Haman faced the king and queen.
Esther 7:7 The king got up from the table and went outside to the palace gardens. Haman could see that he was in a dangerous situation, so he stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life.
Esther 7:8 He had just thrown himself down on Esther's couch to beg for mercy, when the king came back into the room from the gardens. Seeing this, the king cried out, "Are you going to rape my wife here in my own palace?" When Haman heard this, he turned away in despair.
Esther 7:9 Then one of the eunuchs, whose name was Bougathan, said, "Haman has even gone so far as to build a gallows at his house so that he can hang Mordecai, who warned Your Majesty about the plot. And it's seventy-five feet high!" "Hang Haman on it!" the king commanded.
Esther 7:10 So Haman was hanged on the gallows that he had built for Mordecai. Then the king's anger cooled down.