Esther 6
What Happens in This Chapter
The king cannot sleep, so he has the royal records read to him. He learns that Mordecai once saved his life and was never rewarded. Haman arrives planning to ask for Mordecai's death, but instead is told to lead Mordecai through the city in honor. Haman goes home ashamed, and his wife and advisers warn him that his fall has begun.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
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. So he asked for the book of records. It told about things that had happened in his kingdom. His servants read it out loud 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 book said that Mordecai had once told about Bigthana and Teresh. They were two of the king's servants who guarded his door. They had planned to kill King Ahasuerus.
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 good thing was given to Mordecai for this?" The servants who waited on him said, "Nothing was 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 asked, "Who is out in the courtyard?" Just then Haman came into the outer courtyard of the palace. He wanted to ask the king to hang Mordecai on the tall wooden pole he had built.
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 courtyard." 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?
6So Haman came in. The king asked him, "What should be done for a man the king wants to honor?" Haman thought to himself, "Who would the king want to honor more than me?"
7And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour,
7So Haman said to the king, "Here is what to do for the man the king wants to honor.
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 out a royal robe that the king himself has worn. Bring a horse the king himself has ridden. Let the horse wear a royal crest on its head.
The old wording sounds like the crown is on the king's head. It means a royal crest worn on the horse's head.
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. Let him dress the man the king wants to honor. Then let him lead the man on the horse through the city square. Someone should 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.
10Then the king said to Haman, "Hurry. Do just what you said. Take the robe and the horse to Mordecai the Jew. He is sitting at the king's gate. Leave out nothing that you said."
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 in the robe. He led him on the horse through the city square. He called 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 with his head covered. He was full of sadness and shame.
Covering your head was a way people showed they were sad or ashamed.
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 Zeresh said to him, "Mordecai is a Jew. You have already started to fall in front of him. You will not win against him. You will surely fall."
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.
14They were still talking with him when the king's servants came. They hurried Haman away to the dinner Esther had made ready.
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