6
1 On
that night, the
king couldn’t sleep.
He commanded the
book of records
of the chronicles
to be brought,
and they were
read to the
king.
2 It
was found written
that Mordecai had
told of Bigthana
and Teresh, two
of the king’s
eunuchs, who were
doorkeepers, who
had tried to
lay hands on
the King Ahasuerus.
3 The
king said, “What
honor and dignity
has been given
to Mordecai for
this?”
Then the king’s
servants who
attended him said,
“Nothing has been
done for him.”
4 The
king said, “Who is
in the court?”
Now Haman had come
into the outer
court of the
king’s house,
to speak to the
king about hanging
Mordecai on the
gallows that he
had prepared for
him.
5 The
king’s servants said
to him, “Behold,
Haman stands in
the court.”
The king said, “Let
him come in.”
6 So
Haman came in.
The king said to
him, “What shall
be done to
the man whom
the king delights
to honor?”
Now Haman said in
his heart, “Who
would the king
delight to honor
more than myself?”
7 Haman said
to the king, “For
the man whom the
king delights to
honor,
8 let
royal clothing be
brought which the
king uses to wear,
and the horse
that the king
rides on, and
on the head
of which a
royal crown is
set.
9 Let
the clothing and
the horse be
delivered to the
hand of one
of the king’s
most noble princes,
that they may
array the man
whom the king
delights to honor
with them, and
have him ride
on horseback
through the city
square, and
proclaim before
him, ‘Thus it
shall be done
to the man
whom the king
delights to
honor!’ ”
10 Then
the king said
to Haman, “Hurry
and take the
clothing and the
horse, as you
have said, and
do this for
Mordecai the Jew,
who sits at
the king’s gate.
Let nothing fail
of all that
you have spoken.”
11 Then
Haman took the
clothing and the
horse, and arrayed
Mordecai, and had
him ride through
the city square,
and proclaimed
before him, “Thus
it shall be
done to the
man whom the
king delights to
honor!”
12 Mordecai
came back to
the king’s gate,
but Haman hurried
to his house,
mourning and having
his head covered.
13 Haman
recounted to
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
begun to fall,
is of Jewish
descent, you will
not prevail
against him, but
you will surely
fall before him.”
14 While
they were yet
talking with him,
the king’s eunuchs
came, and hurried
to bring Haman
to the banquet
that Esther had
prepared.