hrough the city square and proclaim before him, 'This is what is
done for the man whom the king wishes to honor.'"

Then the king said to Haman, "Make haste and take the garment and the
horse, as you have said, and do thus to Mordecai, the Jew, who sits in
the king's gate. Do not fail to do all you have said." So Haman took the
garment and the horse and clothed Mordecai, and made him ride through
the city square and proclaimed before him, "This is what is done for the
man whom the king wishes to honor."

Mordecai returned to the king's gate, but Haman hurried to his house,
mourning, with his head covered. And Haman told Zeresh, his wife, and
all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men
and Zeresh, his wife, said to him, "If Mordecai before whom you have
already been disgraced is of the Jewish race, you can do nothing against
him, but you will surely fall before him."

While they were still talking with him, the king's servants came and
quickly took Haman to the feast that Esther had prepared. So the king
and Haman went to drink with Queen Esther. And the king said to Esther,
as they were drinking wine, "Whatever you ask, Queen Esther, it shall be
granted you, even if it takes half of the kingdom." Then Queen Esther
answered, "If I have won your favor, O king, and if it seems best to the
king, let my life and my people be given me at my request, for I and my
people have been sold to be destroyed, to be killed, and to perish!"

The King Xerxes said to Queen Esther, "Who is he and where is he who
dares to do so?" Esther answered, "A foe, an enemy, this wicked Haman."
Then Haman shrank in terror before the king and the queen, and Harbonah,
one of those who waited on the king, said, "There, standing in the house
of Haman, are the gallows, seventy-five feet high, which Haman built for
Mordecai, who spoke a good word for the king." The king said, "Hang him
on them." So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for
Mordecai. Then the wrath of the king was quieted.

At that time King Xerxes gave the property of Haman, the Jews' enemy, to
Queen Esther. And Mordecai was made one of the king's advisers, for
Esther had told of his relationship to her. The king also drew off his
signet-ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai; and
Esther placed Mordecai in charge of Haman's property.

Then Esther came again before the king and fell at his feet and with
tears begged him to