The King Honors Mordecai

1That night, the Lord did not let King Artaxerxes get any sleep. So he called in his secretary and said, "Bring the daily reports of the decisions I have made, and read them to me."

2They came across the report of how Mordecai had saved the king's life by telling him about the two guards who planned to kill him. 3-4Artaxerxes asked his servants, "What did we do to reward Mordecai for his kindness?"

"Your Majesty," they answered, "you haven't done anything for him."

Just then, Haman came into the palace courtyard to ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on the tower he had built. The king saw him and said, "Who is that man waiting in front of the throne room?"

5The king's servants answered, "Your Majesty, it is Haman."

"Tell him to come in," the king commanded.

6"Tell me, Haman," the king said, "what should I do for a man I want to honor?"

Haman thought, "The king must be asking how I want to be honored!" 7So he replied, "Your Majesty, if you wish to honor a man, 8order your servants to bring out one of your own fine linen robes and one of your own horses. 9Have one of your most honored friends put the robe on this man you like so well. Then the man will ride your horse and be led through the city streets, while someone shouts, 'This is how the king honors a man!' "

10"That's a great idea!" the king exclaimed. "I want to honor Mordecai the Jew, who is on duty in the palace courtyard. Do just what you have said, and don't forget a thing."

11Haman got the king's robe. He put it on Mordecai and helped him get on the king's horse. Then, as he led Mordecai through the city streets, Haman shouted, "This is how the king honors a man."

12Afterwards, Mordecai went back to the palace courtyard, and Haman turned around and went home, hiding his face in shame. 13He told his wife Zosara and his friends what had happened, and they replied, "Since Mordecai is a Jew, this is only the beginning of your troubles! You are doomed, and there's nothing you can do about it, because the living God is helping him."

14They were still talking when the king's servants came and quickly took Haman to the dinner that Esther had prepared.