Esther 6

The King Plans to Honor Mordecai

1During that nightH3915 1the kingH4428 2couldH5074 not sleepH8142 so he gaveH559 an orderH559 to bringH935 3the bookH5612 of recordsH2146, the chroniclesH1697H3117, and they were readH7121 beforeH6440 the kingH4428. 2It was foundH4672 writtenH3789 whatH834 4MordecaiH4782 had reportedH5046 concerningH5921 BigthanaH904 and TereshH8657, twoH8147 of the king’sH4428 eunuchsH5631 who were doorkeepersH8104H5592, that they had soughtH1245 to layH7971 handsH3027 on KingH4428 AhasuerusH325. 3The kingH4428 saidH559, “WhatH4100 honorH3366 or dignityH1420 has been bestowedH6213 on MordecaiH4782 for thisH2088?” Then the king’sH4428 servantsH5288 who attendedH8334 him saidH559, “NothingH3808H1697 has been doneH6213 for him.” 4So the kingH4428 saidH559, “WhoH4310 is in the courtH2691?” Now HamanH2001 had just 5enteredH935 the outerH2435 courtH2691 of the king’sH4428 palaceH1004 in order to speakH559 to the kingH4428 about 6hangingH8518 MordecaiH4782 on the gallowsH6086 whichH834 he had preparedH3559 for him. 5The king’sH4428 servantsH5288 saidH559 to him, “BeholdH2009, HamanH2001 is standingH5975 in the courtH2691.” And the kingH4428 saidH559, “Let him comeH935 in.” 6So HamanH2001 cameH935 in and the kingH4428 saidH559 to him, “WhatH4100 is to be doneH6213 for the manH376 7whomH834 the kingH4428 desiresH2654 to honorH3366?” And HamanH2001 saidH559 8to himselfH3820, “WhomH4310 would the kingH4428 desireH2654 to honorH3366 moreH3148 thanH4480 me?” 7Then HamanH2001 saidH559 to the kingH4428, “For the manH376 whomH834 the kingH4428 desiresH2654 to honorH3366, 8let them bringH935 a royalH4438 robeH3830 whichH834 the kingH4428 has wornH3847, and 9the horseH5483 on whichH834 the kingH4428 has riddenH7392, and on whoseH834 headH7218 10a royalH4438 crownH3804 has been placedH5414; 9and let the robeH3830 and the horseH5483 be handedH3027 overH5414 to oneH376 of the king’sH4428 most nobleH6579 princesH8269 and let them arrayH3847 the manH376 whomH834 the kingH4428 desiresH2654 to honorH3366 and leadH7392 him on horsebackH5483 through the cityH5892 squareH7339, 11and proclaimH7121 beforeH6440 him, ‘ThusH3602 it shall be doneH6213 to the manH376 whomH834 the kingH4428 desiresH2654 to honorH3366.’”

Haman Must Honor Mordecai

10Then the kingH4428 saidH559 to HamanH2001, “TakeH3947 quicklyH4116 the robesH3830 and the horseH5483 as you have saidH1696, and doH6213 soH3651 for MordecaiH4782 the JewH3064, who is sittingH3427 at the king’sH4428 gateH8179; do not fallH5307 short in anythingH1697 of allH3605 that you have saidH1696.” 11So HamanH2001 tookH3947 the robeH3830 and the horseH5483, and arrayedH3847 MordecaiH4782, and ledH7392 him on horseback through the cityH5892 squareH7339, and proclaimedH7121 beforeH6440 him, “ThusH3602 it shall be doneH6213 to the manH376 whomH834 the kingH4428 desiresH2654 to honorH3366.”

12Then MordecaiH4782 returnedH7725 to the king’sH4428 gateH8179. But HamanH2001 hurriedH1765 homeH1004, mourningH57, 12with his headH7218 coveredH2645. 13HamanH2001 recountedH5608 13to ZereshH2238 his wifeH802 and allH3605 his friendsH157 everythingH3605 that had happenedH7136 to him. Then his wiseH2450 menH2450 and ZereshH2238 his wifeH802 saidH559 to him, “IfH518 MordecaiH4782, beforeH6440 whomH834 you have begunH2490 to fallH5307, is 14of JewishH3064 originH2233, you will not overcomeH3201 him, but will surelyH5307 fallH5307 beforeH6440 him.”

14While they were stillH5750 talkingH1696 with him, the king’sH4428 eunuchsH5631 arrivedH5060 and hastilyH926 15broughtH935 HamanH2001 to the banquetH4960 whichH834 EstherH635 had preparedH6213.