Esther 6
That night the king could not sleep and had the royal chronicles read to him, discovering that Mordecai had never been honored for saving his life. The king asked Haman how to honor a man the king delights in; Haman, thinking it was himself, described a lavish reward — then was humiliated when he had to bestow it on Mordecai.
| v | King James Version | Modern English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. | That night the king could not sleep. He ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought and read to him. |
| 2 | And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. | It was found recorded that Mordecai had reported on Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Ahasuerus. |
| 3 | And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him. | The king asked, "What honor and recognition has been given to Mordecai for this?" His attendants replied, "Nothing has been done for him." |
| 4 | And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him. | The king asked, "Who is in the court?" Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king's palace to ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on the gallows he had prepared for him. |
| 5 | And the king's servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in. | The king's attendants said, "Haman is standing in the court." The king said, "Bring him in." |
| 6 | So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself? | So Haman came in. The king asked him, "What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?" Haman thought to himself, "Who would the king want to honor more than me?" |
| 7 | And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour, | So Haman said to the king, "For the man the king delights to honor, |
| 8 | Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head: | let royal robes be brought — robes that the king has worn — and a horse that the king has ridden, with a royal crown placed on its head. |
| 9 | And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour. | Let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king's most noble officials. Let him robe the man the king delights to honor and lead him on horseback through the city streets, proclaiming before him, 'This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!'" |
| 10 | Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken. | The king said to Haman, "Go at once. Take the robes and the horse, as you have suggested, and do this for Mordecai the Jew who sits at the king's gate. Do not leave out anything you have mentioned." |
| 11 | Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour. | So Haman took the robes and the horse. He put the robes on Mordecai and led him on horseback through the city streets, proclaiming before him, "This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!" |
| 12 | And Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered. | Then Mordecai returned to the king's gate, but Haman hurried home, mourning with his head covered. |
| 13 | And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and his wife Zeresh unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him. | Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him. His advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, "If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish descent, you will not prevail against him but will surely fall before him." |
| 14 | And while they were yet talking with him, came the king's chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared. | While they were still speaking, the king's chamberlains arrived and hurried Haman away to the banquet Esther had prepared. |