 1 That night, the king could not sleep so he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles and they were read before the king. 2 It was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, the keepers of the door who tried to lay a hand on King Ahasuerus. 3 The king said, What honor and dignity has been done to Mordecai for this? And the king's servants who served him said, Nothing has been done for him. 4 The king said, Who is in the court? And Haman had come into the outer court of the king's house to speak to the king to hang Mordecai on the wooden gallows that he had prepared for him. 5 The king's servants said to him, Behold, Haman stands in the court. And the king said, Let him come in. 6 So Haman came in and the king said to him, What shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honor? Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honor more than to myself? 7 Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delights to honor, 8 let the royal clothing be brought, that the king wears, and the horse that the king rides on, and the royal crown that is set on his head. 9 Let this clothing and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes so that they may dress the man whom the king delights to honor, and bring him on horseback through the streets of the city, and proclaim before him, This is what will be done to the man whom the king delights to honor. 10 The king said to Haman, Hurry+. Take the clothing and the horse, as you have said. Do even so to Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king's gate. Do not fail to do any of all the things you have spoken. 11 Haman took the clothing and the horse and dressed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, This is what will be done to the man whom the king delights to honor. 12 Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman hurried to his house mourning, and having his head covered. 13 Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had happened to him. Then his wise men and Zeresh his wife said to him, If Mordecai is of the descendants of the Jews, before whom you have begun to fall, you will not prevail against him but will surely fall before him. 14 While they were still talking with him, the king's eunuchs came and hurried to bring Haman to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
|