Esther 6-7

New International Version

Mordecai Honored

6 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. ²It 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)

³“What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?” the king asked.

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

⁴The 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.

⁵His attendants answered, “Haman is standing in the court.”

“Bring him in,” the king ordered.

⁶When 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?” ⁷So he answered the king, “For the man the king delights to honor, ⁸have 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. ⁹Then 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.”

¹¹So 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!”

¹²Afterward Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman rushed home, with his head covered^(I) in grief, ¹³and 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) ¹⁴While they were still talking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived and hurried Haman away to the banquet^(M) Esther had prepared.

Haman Impaled

7 So the king and Haman went to Queen Esther’s banquet,^(N) ²and as they were drinking wine^(O) on the second day, the king again asked, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom,^(P) it will be granted.^(Q)”

³Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor^(R) with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people—this is my request. ⁴For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed and annihilated.^(S) If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king.^[a]”

⁵King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, “Who is he? Where is he—the man who has dared to do such a thing?”

⁶Esther said, “An adversary and enemy! This vile Haman!”

Then Haman was terrified before the king and queen. ⁷The king got up in a rage,^(T) left his wine and went out into the palace garden.^(U) But Haman, realizing that the king had already decided his fate,^(V) stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life.

⁸Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch^(W) where Esther was reclining.^(X)

The king exclaimed, “Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?”^(Y)

As soon as the word left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.^(Z) ⁹Then Harbona,^(AA) one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, “A pole reaching to a height of fifty cubits^[b]^(AB) stands by Haman’s house. He had it set up for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king.”

The king said, “Impale him on it!”^(AC) ¹⁰So they impaled^(AD) Haman^(AE) on the pole^(AF) he had set up for Mordecai.^(AG) Then the king’s fury subsided.^(AH)

Footnotes

Esther 7:4 Or quiet, but the compensation our adversary offers cannot be compared with the loss the king would suffer
Esther 7:9 That is, about 75 feet or about 23 meters

Psalm 96

New International Version

Psalm 96^(A)

¹Sing to the Lord^(B) a new song;^(C)
    sing to the Lord, all the earth.
²Sing to the Lord, praise his name;^(D)
    proclaim his salvation^(E) day after day.
³Declare his glory^(F) among the nations,
    his marvelous deeds^(G) among all peoples.

⁴For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;^(H)
    he is to be feared^(I) above all gods.^(J)
⁵For all the gods of the nations are idols,^(K)
    but the Lord made the heavens.^(L)
⁶Splendor and majesty^(M) are before him;
    strength and glory^(N) are in his sanctuary.

⁷Ascribe to the Lord,^(O) all you families of nations,^(P)
    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
⁸Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
    bring an offering^(Q) and come into his courts.^(R)
⁹Worship the Lord^(S) in the splendor of his^[a] holiness;^(T)
    tremble^(U) before him, all the earth.^(V)
¹⁰Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.^(W)”
    The world is firmly established,^(X) it cannot be moved;^(Y)
    he will judge^(Z) the peoples with equity.^(AA)

¹¹Let the heavens rejoice,^(AB) let the earth be glad;^(AC)
    let the sea resound, and all that is in it.
¹²Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;
    let all the trees of the forest^(AD) sing for joy.^(AE)
¹³Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes,
    he comes to judge^(AF) the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness^(AG)
    and the peoples in his faithfulness.^(AH)