王赐末底改尊荣

那夜王睡不着觉,就吩咐人拿史书念给他听。 刚好念到末底改揭发两位守门太监辟探和提列谋害亚哈随鲁王的事, 王便问:“末底改既行此事,可曾赐他什么尊荣和爵位吗?”服侍王的臣仆回答说:“没有赐他什么。” 王问:“谁在院子里?”那时哈曼刚进到王宫外院,想请求王将末底改吊在他预备的木架上。 服侍王的臣仆回答说:“是哈曼站在院子里。”王说:“让他进来。” 哈曼进来后,王问他:“王愿意赏识一个人,该怎么做呢?”哈曼心想:“王愿意赏识的人不是我是谁呢?” 于是,他就对王说:“王若愿意赏识一个人, 可以拿来王穿过的袍子,牵来王骑过的戴冠的御马, 交给王最尊贵的一位大臣,给王所愿意赏识的人穿上,让他骑着马在城中的广场上游行,并派人在他前面宣告,‘王愿意赏识谁,就会这样待他。’” 10 王对哈曼说:“快去照你说的,把王袍和御马赐给在宫门供职的犹太人末底改。你所说的一样也不可少。” 11 于是,哈曼将袍子给末底改穿上,让他骑着马在城中的广场上游行,并在他前面宣告:“王愿意赏识谁,就会这样待他。”

12 之后,末底改回到宫门那里,哈曼却悲伤地蒙着头匆匆回家去了。 13 他将自己的遭遇详细告诉妻子细利斯和所有的朋友。他的谋士及其妻子细利斯对他说:“你开始在末底改面前败落。如果他是犹太人,你必胜不过他,终必在他面前败落。”

14 他们正在谈论的时候,王的太监来催哈曼赶快去赴以斯帖预备的宴席。

Mordecai Honored

That night the king could not sleep;(A) so he ordered the book of the chronicles,(B) the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him. It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.(C)

“What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?” the king asked.

“Nothing has been done for him,”(D) his attendants answered.

The king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to speak to the king about impaling Mordecai on the pole he had set up for him.

His attendants answered, “Haman is standing in the court.”

“Bring him in,” the king ordered.

When Haman entered, the king asked him, “What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?”

Now Haman thought to himself, “Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?” So he answered the king, “For the man the king delights to honor, have them bring a royal robe(E) the king has worn and a horse(F) the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honor, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!(G)’”

10 “Go at once,” the king commanded Haman. “Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended.”

11 So Haman got(H) the robe and the horse. He robed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city streets, proclaiming before him, “This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!”

12 Afterward Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman rushed home, with his head covered(I) in grief, 13 and told Zeresh(J) his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him.

His advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, “Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall(K) has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him—you will surely come to ruin!”(L) 14 While they were still talking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived and hurried Haman away to the banquet(M) Esther had prepared.

The King Honors Mordecai

On that night the king could not sleep. And he gave orders to bring (A)the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles, and they were read before the king. And it was found written how (B)Mordecai had told about (C)Bigthana[a] and (D)Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, and who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. And the king said, “What honor or distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” The king's young men who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.” And the king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered (E)the outer court of the king's palace to speak to the king about having Mordecai hanged on (F)the gallows[b] that he had prepared for him. And the king's young men told him, “Haman is there, standing in the court.” And the king said, “Let him come in.” So Haman came in, and the king said to him, “What should be done to the man (G)whom the king delights to honor?” And Haman said to himself, “Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?” And Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king delights to honor, let royal robes be brought, which the king has worn, (H)and the horse that the king has ridden, and on whose head (I)a royal crown[c] is set. And let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king's most noble officials. Let them dress the man whom the king delights to honor, and let them lead him on the horse through the square of the city, (J)proclaiming before him: ‘Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.’” 10 Then the king said to Haman, “Hurry; take the robes and the horse, as you have said, and do so to Mordecai the Jew, who sits (K)at the king's gate. Leave out nothing that you have mentioned.” 11 So Haman took the robes and the horse, and he dressed Mordecai and led him through the square of the city, proclaiming before him, “Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.”

12 Then Mordecai returned to the king's gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning (L)and with his head covered. 13 And Haman told (M)his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of the Jewish people, you will not overcome him but will surely fall before him.”

Esther Reveals Haman's Plot

14 While they were yet talking with him, the king's eunuchs arrived and hurried to bring Haman (N)to the feast that Esther had prepared.

Footnotes

  1. Esther 6:2 Bigthana is an alternate spelling of Bigthan (see 2:21)
  2. Esther 6:4 Or wooden beam (see note on 2:23)
  3. Esther 6:8 Or headdress