Esther 6

₁That night the king could not sleep. He told them to bring the history book to him, the book in which they wrote down everything that happened. They took the book and they read to the king what was written in it. ₂Then they read about Mordecai and how he had told the king that Bigthana and Teresh wanted to kill him. Bigthana and Teresh were officials of the king. They were guards at the gates. ₃The king asked: ‘What have we done to reward Mordecai and honour him?’ The king's servants said: ‘We have done nothing for him.’

₄The king asked: ‘Is there anyone in the courtyard of the palace?’ At that time Haman was in the courtyard. He had come to ask the king to hang Mordecai from the pole that he had put into the ground. ₅The king's servants said to the king: ‘Yes, Haman is standing in the courtyard.’ The king said: ‘Tell him to come in.’

₆When Haman came in, the king asked him: ‘Haman, what do you think we must do for someone if the king wants to show him that he is very important?’

Haman thought: ‘Who is the person that the king wants to honour and make important? I am sure it is I.’ ₇Then he said to the king: ‘If the king wants to show someone that he is important, ₈then they must bring the royal clothes that the king wears and they must get the king's horse and put a crown on his head. ₉Then they must get one of the most important_officials of the king to put the clothes on this man that the king wants to honour. The official must let this important person ride on the horse in the streets of the city and he must shout: “This is what we do when the king wants to honour someone.” ’

₁₀The king said to Haman: ‘Hurry, take the clothes and the horse and do as you have said to Mordecai, the Jew, who is sitting in front of the palace. You must do everything that you have said.’

₁₁Haman took the clothes and the horse and he put the clothes on Mordecai. He led Mordecai on the horse in the streets of the city and he shouted: ‘This is what we do with someone when the king wants to honour him.’

₁₂Then Mordecai went back to the palace and Haman went home quickly. He mourned and he covered his head with a cloth. ₁₃He told his wife Zeresh and all his friends what had happened to him. Then his wise friends and wife Zeresh said to him: ‘The king has humiliated you in front of Mordecai, a Jew. Now you will not be able to do anything against him, this is sure.’

₁₄While they were talking the king's servants came there and they took Haman to the dinner that Esther had prepared.