| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1That night the king could not sleep, so he gave instructions to bring the book of records, the chronicles, and they were read to the king. | 1Throughout that night the king was unable to sleep, so he asked for the book containing the historical records to be brought. As the records were being read in the king's presence, |
| 2It was found recorded there that Mordecai had reported about Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs who guarded the entrance to the restricted areas of the palace, and that they had conspired to assassinate King Ahasuerus. | 2it was found written that Mordecai had disclosed that Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs who guarded the entrance, had plotted to assassinate King Ahasuerus. |
| 3So the king asked, "What honor and distinction was bestowed on Mordecai for this?" The young men who served the king answered, "Nothing was done for him." | 3The king asked, "What great honor was bestowed on Mordecai because of this?" The king's attendants who served him responded, "Not a thing was done for him." |
| 4The king said, "Who is in the courtyard?" Now Haman had just entered the outer courtyard of the palace to speak to the king about having Mordecai hanged on the pole he had set up. | 4Then the king said, "Who is that in the courtyard?" Now Haman had come to the outer courtyard of the palace to suggest that the king hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had constructed for him. |
| 5The king's young men told him, "Look, Haman is standing in the courtyard." The king said, "Let him come in." | 5The king's attendants said to him, "It is Haman who is standing in the courtyard." The king said, "Let him enter." |
| 6After Haman came in, the king asked him, "What should be done for the man whom the king desires to honor?" Haman told himself, "Whom would the king desire to honor more than me?" | 6So Haman came in, and the king said to him, "What should be done for the man whom the king wishes to honor?" Haman thought to himself, "Who is it that the king would want to honor more than me?" |
| 7Haman answered the king, "For a man whom the king desires to honor, | 7So Haman said to the king, "For the man whom the king wishes to honor, |
| 8let them bring royal robes that the king has worn and a horse on which the king has ridden, with a royal crown placed on its head. | 8let them bring royal attire which the king himself has worn and a horse on which the king himself has ridden--one bearing the royal insignia! |
| 9Then give the robes and the horse to one of the king's most noble officials. Let them put the robes on the man whom the king desires to honor, and let them put him on the horse in the main square of the city. Then let them announce in front of him, 'This is what is done for the man whom the king desires to honor.'" | 9Then let this clothing and this horse be given to one of the king's noble officials. Let him then clothe the man whom the king wishes to honor, and let him lead him about through the plaza of the city on the horse, calling before him, 'So shall it be done to the man whom the king wishes to honor!'" |
| 10Then the king told Haman, "Quick! Take the clothes and the horse just as you have suggested and do this for Mordecai the Jew who sits in the king's gate. And don't let anything you've suggested fall through the cracks." | 10The king then said to Haman, "Go quickly! Take the clothing and the horse, just as you have described, and do as you just indicated to Mordecai the Jew who sits at the king's gate. Don't neglect a single thing of all that you have said." |
| 11So Haman took the clothes and the horse, dressed Mordecai, and put him on the horse in the main square of the city. He cried out in front of him, "This is what is done for the man whom the king desires to honor." | 11So Haman took the clothing and the horse, and he clothed Mordecai. He led him about on the horse throughout the plaza of the city, calling before him, "So shall it be done to the man whom the king wishes to honor!" |
| 12Then Mordecai returned to the king's gate, while Haman hurried to his house, mourning and hiding his face. | 12Then Mordecai again sat at the king's gate, while Haman hurried away to his home, mournful and with a veil over his head. |
| 13Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him. His wise friends and his wife Zeresh told him, "If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is one of the Jewish people, you won't prevail against him. Instead, you will surely fall before him." | 13Haman then related to his wife Zeresh and to all his friends everything that had happened to him. These wise men, along with his wife Zeresh, said to him, "If indeed this Mordecai before whom you have begun to fall is Jewish, you will not prevail against him. No, you will surely fall before him!" |
| 14While they were still talking to him, the king's eunuchs arrived, and they quickly took him to the banquet that Esther had prepared. | 14While they were still speaking with him, the king's eunuchs arrived. They quickly brought Haman to the banquet that Esther had prepared. |
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