1
On that night sleep fled from the king. And he commanded that the Sefer of the Chronicles, the record of the days, be brought. And they were read before the king.
2
And it was found written that Mordekhai had reported concerning Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who guarded the threshold, who had sought to stretch out a hand against King Achashverosh.
3
Then the king said: “What honor or greatness has been done for Mordekhai because of this?” And the king’s servants who ministered to him said: “Nothing has been done for him.”
4
And the king said: “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had come into the outer court of the king’s house to speak to the king that Mordekhai might be hanged upon the tree which he had prepared for him.
5
And the king’s servants said to him: “See, Haman is standing in the court.” And the king said: “Let him enter.”
6
So Haman entered. And the king said to him: “What shall be done for the ish whom the king desires to honor?” And Haman said in his heart: “To whom would the king desire to give honor more than to me?”
7
And Haman said to the king: “For the ish whom the king desires to honor,
8
let royal clothing be brought, which the king has worn, and a horse upon which the king has ridden, and let the royal crown be placed upon its head.
9
And let the clothing and the horse be given into the hand of one of the king’s most noble rulers. And let them clothe the ish whom the king desires to honor, and cause him to ride upon the horse through the open square of the city. And let them proclaim before him: ‘Thus shall it be done for the ish whom the king desires to honor.’”
10
Then the king said to Haman: “Hasten. Take the clothing and the horse, just as you have spoken, and do so for Mordekhai the Yehudi, who sits at the king’s gate. Do not let one word fall from all that you have spoken.”
11
Then Haman took the clothing and the horse. And he clothed Mordekhai and caused him to ride through the open square of the city. And he proclaimed before him: “Thus shall it be done for the ish whom the king desires to honor.”
12
Then Mordekhai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning and with his head covered.
13
And Haman recounted to Zeresh his ishah and to all his companions everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and Zeresh his ishah said to him: “If Mordekhai, before whom you have begun to fall, is from the seed of the Yehudim, you shall not prevail against him. Falling, you shall surely fall before him.”
14
While they were still speaking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived and hastened to bring Haman to the feast which Ester had prepared.