Esther
Chapter 6
The king cannot sleep, so he has the royal records read aloud, and he learns that Mordecai once saved his life and was never rewarded. Haman arrives to ask permission to hang Mordecai, but the king asks him first how to honor a man he favors. Haman, sure the king means him, describes a grand parade, and is then ordered to lead Mordecai through the city himself. Haman goes home shamed, and his wife and advisers warn him that his fall has begun.
Plain reading written for preteens. Clear and complete, at about a fifth grade reading level.
On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.
1That night the king could not sleep. He ordered the book of official records to be brought, and it was read to him.
2And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.
2The record said that Mordecai had reported Bigthana and Teresh. These two guards of the king's door had planned to kill King Ahasuerus.
The KJV calls them "chamberlains." These were palace officials who served the king closely, and here they guarded the door to his rooms.
3And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.
3The king asked, "What honor or reward has Mordecai been given for this?" His servants answered, "Nothing has been done for him."
4And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king’s house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
4The king said, "Who is in the courtyard?" Haman had just come into the outer court to ask the king to hang Mordecai on the pole he had built.
The KJV word "gallows" means a tall wooden pole. Haman had it built to display Mordecai's body after killing him.
5And the king’s servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in.
5The king's servants said, "Haman is standing in the court." The king said, "Bring him in."
6So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself?
6Haman came in. The king asked, "What should be done for the man the king wants to honor?" Haman thought, "Who else would he mean but me?"
7And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour,
7So Haman said to the king, "For the man the king wants to honor, do this:
8Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head:
8Bring a royal robe the king himself has worn, and a horse the king himself has ridden, with a royal headpiece on the horse.
9And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour.
9Give the robe and the horse to one of the king's highest officials. Have him dress the man and lead him on horseback through the city square. Have him call out, 'This is what is done for the man the king wants to honor.'"
10Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king’s gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.
10The king said to Haman, "Hurry. Take the robe and the horse, just as you said, and do all this for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king's gate. Leave out nothing you have named."
11Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.
11So Haman took the robe and the horse. He dressed Mordecai and led him on horseback through the city square, calling out, "This is what is done for the man the king wants to honor."
12And Mordecai came again to the king’s gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered.
12Then Mordecai went back to the king's gate. But Haman hurried home in grief, with his head covered.
Covering the head was a normal way of showing grief or shame in public. It was not a disguise.
13And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.
13Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened. His advisers and his wife said, "If Mordecai is a Jew, you cannot win against him. Your fall has already begun, and you will surely fall before him."
14And while they were yet talking with him, came the king’s chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared.
14While they were still talking with him, the king's officials arrived. They rushed Haman off to the banquet Esther had prepared.
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