Aquella noche el rey no podía dormir^1a y dio orden que trajeran el libro de las Memorias, las crónicas^b, y que las leyeran delante del rey. 2 Y fue hallado escrito lo que Mardoqueo había informado acerca de Bigtán y Teres, dos de los eunucos del rey, guardianes del umbral, de que ellos habían procurado echar mano al¹ rey Asuero^a. 3 Y el rey preguntó: ¿Qué honor o distinción se le ha dado a Mardoqueo por esto? Respondieron los siervos del rey que le servían: Nada se ha hecho por él. 4 Entonces el rey preguntó: ¿Quién está en el atrio? Y Amán acababa de entrar al atrio exterior^a del palacio¹ del rey, para pedir al rey que hiciera ahorcar a Mardoqueo en la horca que él le había preparado^b. 5 Y los siervos del rey le respondieron: He aquí, Amán está en el atrio. Y el rey dijo: Que entre. 6 Cuando Amán entró, el rey le preguntó: ¿Qué se debe hacer para el hombre a quien el rey quiere honrar^a? Y Amán se dijo¹: ¿A quién desearía el rey honrar más que a mí? 7 Y Amán respondió al rey: Para el hombre a quien el rey quiere honrar, 8 traigan un manto real con que se haya vestido el rey, y un caballo en el cual el rey haya montado^a y en cuya cabeza se haya colocado una diadema real^b; 9 y el manto y el caballo sean entregados en mano de uno de los príncipes más nobles del rey, y vistan al hombre a quien el rey quiere honrar, le lleven a caballo por la plaza de la ciudad y pregonen delante de él^a: «Así se hace al hombre a quien el rey quiere honrar».

10 Entonces el rey dijo a Amán: Toma presto el manto y el caballo como has dicho, y hazlo así con el judío Mardoqueo, que está sentado a la puerta del rey; no omitas nada de todo lo que has dicho. 11 Y Amán tomó el manto y el caballo, vistió a Mardoqueo y lo llevó a caballo por la plaza de la ciudad, y pregonó delante de él: Así se hace al hombre a quien el rey quiere honrar. 12 Después Mardoqueo regresó a la puerta del rey, pero Amán se apresuró a volver a su casa, lamentándose, con la cabeza cubierta^a. 13 Y Amán contó a su mujer Zeres y a todos sus amigos^a todo lo que le había acontecido. Entonces sus sabios y su mujer Zeres le dijeron: Si Mardoqueo, delante de quien has comenzado a caer, es de descendencia judía¹, no podrás con él, sino que ciertamente caerás delante de él. 14 Aún estaban hablando con él, cuando llegaron los eunucos del rey y llevaron aprisa a Amán al banquete que Ester había preparado^a.

During that night ¹the king ^acould not sleep, so he gave an order to bring ^bthe book of records, the chronicles, and they were read before the king. 2 And it was found written what ^aMordecai had reported about Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who were doorkeepers, that they had sought to ¹attack King Ahasuerus. 3 Then the king said, “What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” And the king’s servants who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.” 4 So the king said, “Who is in the courtyard?” Now Haman had just ^aentered the outer courtyard of the king’s palace in order to speak to the king about ^bhanging Mordecai on the wooden gallows which he had prepared for him. 5 So the king’s servants said to him, “Behold, Haman is standing in the courtyard.” And the king said, “Have him come in.” 6 Haman then came in and the king said to him, “What is to be done for the man ^awhom the king desires to honor?” And Haman said ¹to himself, “Whom would the king desire to honor more than me?” 7 Therefore Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king desires to honor, 8 have them bring a royal robe which the king has worn, and ^athe horse on which the king has ridden, and on whose head ^ba royal turban has been placed; 9 then order them to hand the robe and the horse over to one of the king’s noble officials, and have them dress the man whom the king desires to honor, and lead him on horseback through the city square, ^aand proclaim before him, ‘So it shall be done for the man whom the king desires to honor.’”

10 Then the king said to Haman, “Quickly, take the robe and the horse just as you have said, and do so for Mordecai the Jew, who is sitting at the king’s gate; do not fail to do anything of all that you have said.” 11 So Haman took the robe and the horse, and dressed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city square, and proclaimed before him, “So it shall be done for the man whom the king desires to honor.”

12 Then Mordecai returned to the king’s gate, while Haman hurried home, mourning, ^awith his head covered. 13 And Haman informed ^aZeresh his wife and all his friends of everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and Zeresh his wife said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is ¹of Jewish origin, you will not prevail over him, but will certainly fall before him.”

14 While they were still talking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived and quickly ^abrought Haman to the banquet which Esther had prepared.

On that night ¹the king ^acould not sleep; so he ordered that ^bthe book of records and memorable deeds, the chronicles, be brought, and they were read before the king. 2 It was found written there how ^aMordecai had reported that Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who were doorkeepers, had planned to ¹attack King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) . 3 The king said, “What honor or distinction has been given Mordecai for this?” Then the king’s servants who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.” 4 So the king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just ^aentered the outer court of the king’s palace to ask the king about ^1bhanging Mordecai on the gallows which he had prepared for him. 5 The king’s servants said to him, “Look, Haman is standing in the court.” And the king said, “Let him come in.” 6 So Haman came in and the king said to him, “What is to be done for the man ^awhom the king desires to honor?” Now Haman thought ¹to himself, “Whom would the king desire to honor more than me?” 7 So Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king desires to honor, 8 let a royal robe be brought which the king has worn, and ^athe horse on which the king has ridden, and on whose head ^ba royal crown has been placed; 9 and let the robe and the horse be handed over to one of the king’s most noble officials. Let him dress the man whom the king delights to honor in the royal robe and lead him on horseback through the open square of the city, ^aand proclaim before him, ‘This is what shall be done for the man whom the king desires to honor.’”

10 Then the king said to Haman, “Quickly take the royal robe and the horse, as you have said, and do this for Mordecai the Jew, who is sitting at the king’s gate. Leave out nothing of all that you have said.” 11 So Haman took the royal robe and the horse and dressed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the open square of the city, proclaiming before him, “This is what shall be done for the man whom the king desires to honor.”

12 Then Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman hurried to his own house, mourning and ^awith his head covered in sorrow. 13 Then Haman told ^aZeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise counselors and his wife Zeresh said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall in status, is of Jewish heritage, you will not overcome him, but will certainly fall before him.”

14 While they were still speaking with him, the king’s eunuchs (attendants) arrived and hurriedly ^abrought Haman to the banquet which Esther had prepared.