Exaltación de Mardoqueo
1Aquella noche el rey no podía dormir, entonces ordenó que trajeran las crónicas reales —la historia de su reino— y que se las leyeran. 2Allí constaba que Mardoqueo había delatado a Bigtán y Teres, dos de los eunucos del rey, miembros de la guardia de la entrada, que habían tramado asesinar al rey Asuero.
3—¿Qué honor o reconocimiento ha recibido Mardoqueo por esto? —preguntó el rey.
—No se ha hecho nada por él —respondieron sus ayudantes personales.
4Amán acababa de entrar en el patio exterior del palacio para pedirle al rey que colgara a Mardoqueo en la horca que había mandado levantar para él. Así que el rey preguntó:
—¿Quién anda en el patio?
5Sus ayudantes respondieron:
—El que anda en el patio es Amán.
—¡Que pase! —ordenó el rey.
6Cuando entró Amán, el rey le preguntó:
—¿Cómo se debe tratar al hombre a quien el rey desea honrar?
Entonces Amán dijo para sí: «¿A quién va a querer honrar el rey sino a mí?». 7Así que contestó:
—Para el hombre a quien el rey desea honrar, 8que se mande traer una vestidura real que el rey haya usado y un caballo en el que haya montado y que lleve en la cabeza una corona real. 9La vestidura y el caballo deberán entregarse a uno de los nobles más ilustres del rey, para que vista al hombre a quien el rey desea honrar, y que lo pasee a caballo por las calles de la ciudad, proclamando a su paso: “¡Así se trata al hombre a quien el rey desea honrar!”.
10—Ve de inmediato —dijo el rey a Amán—, toma la vestidura y el caballo, tal como lo has sugerido, y haz eso mismo con Mardoqueo, el judío que está sentado a la puerta del rey. No descuides ningún detalle de todo lo que has recomendado.
11Así que Amán tomó la vestidura y el caballo, vistió a Mardoqueo y lo llevó a caballo por las calles de la ciudad, proclamando a su paso: «¡Así se trata al hombre a quien el rey desea honrar!».
12Después Mardoqueo volvió a la puerta del rey. Pero Amán regresó triste y apurado a su casa, tapándose la cara. 13Y contó a su esposa Zeres y a sus amigos todo lo que había sucedido.
Entonces sus consejeros y su esposa Zeres dijeron:
—Si Mardoqueo, ante quien has comenzado a caer, es de origen judío, no podrás contra él. ¡Sin duda acabarás siendo derrotado!
14Mientras todavía estaban hablando con Amán, llegaron los eunucos del rey y lo llevaron de prisa al banquete ofrecido por Ester.
The King Honors Mordecai
1That night the king couldn’t sleep. So he ordered the official records of his rule to be brought in. He ordered someone to read them to him. 2What Mordecai had done was written there. He had uncovered the plans of Bigthana and Teresh. They were two of the king’s officers who guarded the door of the royal palace. They had decided to kill King Xerxes.
3“What great honor has Mordecai received for doing that?” the king asked.
“Nothing has been done for him,” his attendants answered.
4The king asked, “Who is in the courtyard?” Haman had just entered the outer courtyard of the palace. He had come to speak to the king about putting Mordecai to death. He wanted to talk about putting Mordecai’s body on the pole he had prepared for him.
5The king’s attendants said to him, “Haman is standing in the courtyard.”
“Bring him in,” the king ordered.
6Haman entered. Then the king asked him, “What should be done for the man I want to honor?”
Haman said to himself, “Is there anyone the king would rather honor than me?” 7So he answered the king. He said, “Here is what you should do for the man you want to honor. 8Have your servants get a royal robe you have worn. Have them bring a horse you have ridden on. Have a royal mark placed on its head. 9Then give the robe and horse to one of your most noble princes. Let the robe be put on the man you want to honor. Let him be led on the horse through the city streets. Let people announce in front of him, ‘This is what is done for the man the king wants to honor!’ ”
10“Go right away,” the king commanded Haman. “Get the robe. Bring the horse. Do exactly what you have suggested. Do it for Mordecai the Jew. He’s sitting out there at the palace gate. Make sure you do everything you have suggested.”
11So Haman got the robe and the horse. He put the robe on Mordecai. And he led him on horseback through the city streets. He walked along in front of him and announced, “This is what is done for the man the king wants to honor!”
12After that, Mordecai returned to the palace gate. But Haman rushed home. He covered his head because he was very sad. 13He told his wife Zeresh everything that had happened to him. He also told all his friends.
His advisers and his wife Zeresh spoke to him. They said, “Your fall from power started with Mordecai. He’s a Jew. So now you can’t stand up against him. You are going to be destroyed!” 14They were still talking with him when the king’s officials arrived. They hurried Haman away to the feast Esther had prepared.
