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night the king could not sleep, and he gave orders to have the book of the chronicles, the daily records of his reign, brought in and read to the king. 2 It was found recorded there that Mordecai had informed on Bigthana and Terish, two of the king’s eunuchs who guarded the king’s entrance, when they had conspired to assassinate King Ahasuerus.
3 The king asked, “What honour or special recognition has been bestowed on Mordecai for doing this?”
The kings personal attendants replied, “Nothing has been done for him.”
4 So the king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king’s palace to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows he had prepared for him.
5 The king’s attendants answered him, “Haman is there, standing in the court.”
“Bring him in,” the king ordered.
6 So Haman came in, and the king asked him, “What should be done for the man whom the king delights to honour?” Now Haman thought to himself, “Who is there that the king would want to honour more than me?” 7 So Haman answered the king, “For the man whom the king delights to honour, 8 have royal robes be brought that the king himself has worn and a horse the king himself has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. 9 Then let the robes and the horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Have them clothe the man the king wants to honour, and parade him through the city streets on horseback, and proclaim before him, ‘This is what is done for the man the king delights to honour!’ ”
10 Then the king commanded Haman, “Go at once, get the robes and the horse as just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Do not leave out anything you have suggested.”
11 So Haman got the robes and the horse. He clothed Mordecai, and paraded him on horseback through the city streets, proclaiming before him, “This is what is done for the man the king delights to honour.”
12 Then Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman, overcome with grief, hurried home with his head covered. 13 Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him.
Then his advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, “Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall has begun, is of Jewish descent, you will not prevail against him, but you will certainly come to ruin!” 14 While they were still speaking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived and hurried Haman away to the banquet Esther had prepared.