4. So Esther's maids and her chamberlains cameand told her; at which she was exceedingly grieved; and sent raiment to clothe Mordecai; and to take away his sackcloth; but he would not receive it. 5. Then she sent for Hatach, one of the king's chamberlains, whom he appointed to attend her, and bade him ask Mordecai what the matter was 6. So Hatach went to him, in the street, before the king's gate; 7. To whom Mordecai told all that had happened, and of the sum of money Haman promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews (taxes in order) to destroy them; 8. He also gave him a copy of the written decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew Esther, and to charge her to go in to the king, to make supplication to him, for her people.

9. Then Hatach came and told Esther his words; 10. Who again gave this intimation to Mordecai; 11. All the king's servants, and people of his provinces, know, that any man or woman, who goes to the king in the inner court without being called, his decree is, to put them to death, except such to whom he holds out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days. 12. So they told Mordecai Esther's words. 13. Then he commanded to answer her, Think not that thou shalt escape in the king's house any more than all the Jews. 14. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then deliverance shall arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed; (by God's judgment for neglecting this,) and who knows but thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

15. Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer; 16. Go, gather all the Jews in Shushan, and fast ye for me, neither eat nor drink three days, night nor day; I also and my maids will fast likewise; and so I will go in to the king, tho' contrary

to the law; and if I perish, I perish. decai went away, and did entirely as manded him.

CHAP. V.

17. So MorEsther com

ESTHER OBTAINS HER REQUEST.

On the third day, Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, opposite to him, as he sat on his royal throne in the royal house, opposite to its door. 2. When the king saw Esther the queen standing there, she obtained his favour; and he held out to her the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So she drew near, and touched the top of it. 3. Then he said to her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? for whatever thy request is, it shall be given thee, even to the half of the kingdom. 4. Then she answered, If the king please, let him and Haman come this day to the banquet I have prepared for him. 5. Then the king said, Cause Haman make haste, to do what Esther said. So he and Haman came to the banquet.

6. The king said again to Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: for whatever is thy request, even to the half of the kingdom, it shall be performed. 7. Then she answered, My petition and request is; 8. If I have obtained thy favour, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and perform my request, that the king and Haman come to the banquet I shall prepare for them, and I will do to-morrow as the king hath said.

9. Then Haman went forth that day joyful, and with a glad heart; yet when he saw that Mordecai in the king's gate stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of wrath against him. 10. Yet he restrained himself; and going home, he sent to call his friends, and Zeresh his wife. 11. To whom he

told the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, with all wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above his princes and servants. 12. He said, moreover, Yea, Esther the queen let none come in with the king to the banquet she prepared but myself; and to morrow I am invited by her also with the king. 13. Yet all this avails me nothing, while I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.

14. Then Zeresh his wife, and all his friends, said to him, Let a gallows be made fifty cubits high, and to-morrow speak thou to the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon; then go thou in merrily with the king into the banquet. So the thing pleas ed Haman, and he caused the gallows to be made.

CHAP. VI.

AHASUERUS REWARDETH MORDECAI.

On that night the king could not sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of the records of the Chronicles; and they were read before him. 2, Where it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, door-keepers, who sought to slay king Ahasuerus. 3. Then the king said, What honour and promotion hath been conferred on Mordecai for this? Then his servants who attended him, said, There is nothing done for him.

Then

4. Then he said, Who is in the Court? And Haman being come into the outer court of the king's house, to speak to him to hang Mordecai on the gallows he had prepared for him, 5. They told him that Haman was standing in the court. the king said, Let him come in. 6. So he came in: and the king said to him, What shall be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour? (Haman said in his heart, Whom will the king delight to ho hour more than myself?) 7. So he replied, For this

man whom the king delighteth to honour, 8. Let the royal apparel be brought which the king wears, and the horse he rides on, and the crown royal which is set on his head; 9. And let this apparel and horse be delivered to one of the king's most noble princes, to array that man, and cause him ride through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour. 10. Then the king said to Haman, Take the apparel and the horse quickly, as thou hast said, and do so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate; let nothing fail of all thou hast spoken. 11. Then Haman took the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horse-back through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour.

12. Then Mordecai came again to the king's gate; but Haman hasted to his house mourning, and with his head covered. 19. And told Zeresh his wife, and all his friends, all that had befallen him. Then said his wise men, and Zeresh his wife, to him, If Mordecai be of the Jews race, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him. 14. Now while they were talking with him the king's chamberlain came, and hasted to bring Haman to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

CHAP. VII.

HAMAN IS HANGED ON HIS GALLOWS.

So the king and Haman came to the banquet with queen Esther. 2. And the king said to her again the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee; for whatever thy request is, it shall be performed to the half of the kingdom. 3. Then she answered, If

I have obtained thy favour, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my peoples' at my request. 4. For I and my people are sold to be slain, to be destroyed, and to perish; but if we had been sold for bond-men and bond-women, I had held my peace, altho' the enemy could not counterbalance the king's damage.

5. Then the king answered, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so? 6. Then Esther said, This wicked Haman is the ad versary and enemy. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.

7. Then the king arising in his wrath from the banquet of wine, went into the palace-garden; and Haman stood up to request Esther the queen for his life; for he saw that evil was determined against him by the king; 8. Who, returning out of the pa lace-garden into the place of the banquet of wine, and Haman being fallen on the bed whereon Esther was, the king said, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of his mouth, they covered Haman's face, (as one condemned). 9. And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also the gallows standing in Haman's house fifty cubits high, which he made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king. Then the king said, Hang him there10. So they hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.

on.

CHAP. VIII.

MORDECAI'S HONOUR, AND THE JEWS JOY.

On that day king Ahasuerus gave Haman's house, the Jews enemy, to queen Esther: and Mordecai came before the king; for she told his relation to her. 2. Then the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai Esther also set him over Haman's house.