Esther 1

1 This is what happened in the days of Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces from India to Cush.

2 In those days King Xerxes sat on his royal throne in the citadel of Susa.

3 In the third year of his reign, Xerxes held a feast for all his officials and servants. The military leaders of Persia and Media were there, along with the nobles and princes of the provinces.

4 And for a full 180 days he displayed the glorious riches of his kingdom and the magnificent splendor of his greatness.

5 At the end of this time, in the garden court of the royal palace, the king held a seven-day feast for all the people in the citadel of Susa, from the least to the greatest.

6 Hangings of white and blue linen were fastened with cords of fine white and purple material to silver rings on the marble pillars. Gold and silver couches were arranged on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and other costly stones.

7 Beverages were served in an array of goblets of gold, each with a different design, and the royal wine flowed freely, according to the king’s bounty.

8 By order of the king, no limit was placed on the drinking, and every official of his household was to serve each man whatever he desired.

9 Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.

10 On the seventh day, when the king’s heart was merry with wine, he ordered the seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas—

11 to bring Queen Vashti before him, wearing her royal crown, to display her beauty to the people and officials. For she was beautiful to behold.

12 Queen Vashti, however, refused to come at the king’s command brought by his eunuchs. And the king became furious, and his anger burned within him.

13 Then the king consulted the wise men who knew the times, for it was customary for him to confer with the experts in law and justice.

14 His closest advisors were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media who had personal access to the king and ranked highest in the kingdom.

15 “According to law,” he asked, “what should be done with Queen Vashti, since she refused to obey the command of King Xerxes delivered by the eunuchs?”

16 And in the presence of the king and his princes, Memucan replied, “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king, but all the princes and the peoples in all the provinces of King Xerxes.

17 For the conduct of the queen will become known to all women, causing them to despise their husbands and say, ‘King Xerxes ordered Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she did not come.’

18 This very day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard about the queen’s conduct will say the same thing to all the king’s officials, resulting in much contempt and wrath.

19 So if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree, and let it be recorded in the laws of Persia and Media so that it cannot be repealed, that Vashti shall never again enter the presence of King Xerxes, and that her royal position shall be given to a woman better than she.

20 The edict the king issues will be heard throughout his vast kingdom—and so all women, from the least to the greatest, will honor their husbands.”

21 The king and his princes were pleased with this counsel; so the king did as Memucan advised.

22 He sent letters to all the provinces of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language, proclaiming that every man should be master of his own household.

1 ¶ Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this [is] Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, [over] an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)

2 [That] in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which [was] in Shushan the palace,

3 In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, [being] before him:

4 When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, [even] an hundred and fourscore days.

5 And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace;

6 [Where were] white, green, and blue, [hangings], fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds [were of] gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black, marble.

7 And they gave [them] drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being diverse one from another,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the state of the king.

8 And the drinking [was] according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.

9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women [in] the royal house which [belonged] to king Ahasuerus.

10 ¶ On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,

11 To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she [was] fair to look on.

12 But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by [his] chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.

13 Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so [was] the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment:

14 And the next unto him [was] Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, [and] Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king's face, [and] which sat the first in the kingdom;)

15 What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?

16 And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that [are] in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.

17 For [this] deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.

18 [Likewise] shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king's princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus [shall there arise] too much contempt and wrath.

19 If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.

20 And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small.

21 And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan:

22 For he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and that [it] should be published according to the language of every people.

1 In the days of Ahasuerus, which was king from India unto the Moors, over an hundred and twenty and seven countries,

2 And as he sat in his royal seat in Shushan the palace,

3 In the third year of his reign he made a feast with him unto all his princes and servants, even to the mighty men of Persia and Media, and to the governors and princes of his provinces,

4 That he might shew the marvellous riches of his kingdom, and the glorious majesty of his majesty, for many days, even an hundred and fourscore days.

5 And when the days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were in Shushan the palace, both great and small, seven days in the court of the garden of the king's house.

6 There hung white, red, and yellow cloths, bound with linen and scarlet ropes in silver rings upon marble pillars. The benches were of gold and silver, made upon pavements of green, white, yellow, and black marbles.

7 And the drink was carried in vessels of gold, and other vessels, and other vessels, and royal wine in such quantity as the king was able.

8 And they appointed no man what he should drink: for the king had commanded all the rulers of his house that every man should do as he pleased.

9 And Vasthi the queen also made a feast for the women in the royal house of king Ahasuerus,

10 And on the seventh day, when the king was well pleased with wine, he called Mehuman, Bistha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Sethar, and Kharkas, the seven eunuchs that ministered before king Ahasuerus,

11 And they brought Vashti the queen before the king with the royal crown, to shew her beauty unto the people and to the princes: for she was fair.

12 But Vasthi the queen would not come after the king's word by his chamberlains. And the king was very wroth, and his wrath was kindled in him.

13 And the king spake unto the wise men that had knowledge of the customs of the land, (for the king's things must be done in the sight of all that have understanding of right and wrong;

14 And the next unto him were Charsena, and Sethar, and Admatha, and Tharsis, and Meres, and Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of the Persians and Medes, which saw the king's face, and sat on high in the kingdom),

15 What right should be done to Vasthi the queen, because she had not done according to the king's word by his chamberlains?

16 And Memucan said before the king and princes, Vashti the queen hath not wrought evil against the king only, but also against all the princes, and against all the people of all the provinces of king Ahasuerus.

17 For such a deed shall come forth from the queen unto all the women, that they shall despise their husbands in their sight, and shall say, Ahasuerus the king called Vashti the queen to come before him; but she would not.

18 Now therefore the princesses of Persia and Media shall say so also unto all the king's princes, when they hear such a deed of the queen; and there shall be enough contempt and wrath.

19 If it please the king, let a royal decree go forth from him, and let it be written according to the law of the Persians and Medes, which shall not be transgressed, that Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her kingdom to her neighbour that is better than she;

20 And that this letter of the king's, which is made, may go forth into all his kingdom (which is great), that all the women may keep their husbands in honour, both great and small.

21 And it pleased the king and the princes: and the king did according to the word of Memucan.

22 And letters were sent into all the king's provinces, into every land according to the writing thereof, and unto every people according to their language, that every man should be ruler in his house, and speak according to the language of his people.