6That night the king couldn’t sleep. So he ordered the official records of his rule to be brought in. He ordered someone to read them to him. ²It was written there that Mordecai had uncovered the plans of Bigthana and Teresh against the king. They had been two of the king’s officers who guarded the door of the royal palace. They had decided to kill King Xerxes.

³“What great honor has Mordecai received for doing that?” the king asked.

“Nothing has been done for him,” his attendants answered.

⁴The king asked, “Who is in the courtyard?”

Haman had just entered the outer courtyard of the palace. He had come to speak to the king about putting Mordecai to death. He wanted to talk about putting Mordecai’s body up on the pole he had gotten ready for him.

⁵The king’s attendants said to him, “Haman is standing in the courtyard.”

“Bring him in,” the king ordered.

⁶Haman entered. Then the king asked him, “What should be done for the man I want to honor?”

Haman said to himself, “Is there anyone the king would rather honor than me?” ⁷So he answered the king. He said, “Here is what you should do for the man you want to honor. ⁸Have your servants get a royal robe you have worn. Have them bring a horse you have ridden on. Have a royal crest placed on its head. ⁹Then give the robe and horse to one of your most noble princes. Let the robe be put on the man you want to honor. Let him be led on the horse through the city streets. Let people announce in front of him, ‘This is what is done for the man the king wants to honor!’ ”

¹⁰“Go right away,” the king commanded Haman. “Get the robe. Bring the horse. Do exactly what you have suggested. Do it for the Jew Mordecai. He’s sitting out there at the palace gate. Make sure you do everything you have suggested.”

¹¹So Haman got the robe and the horse. He put the robe on Mordecai. And he led him on horseback through the city streets. He walked along in front of him and announced, “This is what is done for the man the king wants to honor!”

¹²After that, Mordecai returned to the palace gate. But Haman rushed home. He covered his head because he was very sad. ¹³He told his wife Zeresh everything that had happened to him. He also told all of his friends.

His advisers and his wife Zeresh spoke to him. They said, “Your fall from power started with Mordecai. He’s a Jew. So now you can’t stand up against him. You are going to be destroyed!” ¹⁴They were still talking with him when the king’s officials arrived. They hurried Haman away to the big dinner Esther had prepared.

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