1On that night, the king couldnât sleep. He commanded the book of records of the chronicles to be brought, and they were read to the king.
2It was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the kingâs eunuchs, who were doorkeepers, who had tried to lay hands on the King Ahasuerus.
3The king said, âWhat honor and dignity has been given to Mordecai for this?â Then the kingâs servants who attended him said, âNothing has been done for him.â
4The king said, âWho is in the court?â Now Haman had come into the outer court of the kingâs house, to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
5The kingâs servants said to him, âBehold, Haman stands in the court.â The king said, âLet him come in.â
6So Haman came in. The king said to him, âWhat shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honor?â Now Haman said in his heart, âWho would the king delight to honor more than myself?â
7Haman said to the king, âFor the man whom the king delights to honor,
8let 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.
9Let the clothing and the horse be delivered to the hand of one of the kingâs 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, âThus it shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!ââ
10Then the king said to Haman, âHurry and take the clothing and the horse, as you have said, and do this for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the kingâs gate. Let nothing fail of all that you have spoken.â
11Then Haman took the clothing and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and had him ride through the city square, and proclaimed before him, âThus it shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!â
12Mordecai came back to the kingâs gate, but Haman hurried to his house, mourning and having his head covered.
13Haman 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, âIf 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.â
14While they were yet talking with him, the kingâs eunuchs came, and hurried to bring Haman to the banquet that Esther had prepared.