Esth 1
1
Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus who reigned from India
even to Ethiopia, over a 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 to 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 showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honor of his excellent majesty
many days, even a hundred and fourscore days.
5
And when these days were fulfilled, the king made a feast to all the people that were
present in Shushan the palace, both great and small, seven days, in the court of the
garden of the king`s palace.
6
[There were hangings of] white [cloth], [of] green, and [of] blue, fastened with cords
of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the couches were of
gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and white, and yellow, 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 bounty of the king.
8
And the drinking was according to the law; none could 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
ministered in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,
11
to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to show the peoples
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 the chamberlains:
therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.
13
Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times, (for so was the king`s manner
toward all that knew law and judgment;
14
and the next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and
Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king`s face, and sat first
in the kingdom),
15
What shall we do to the queen Vashti according to law, because she has not done the
bidding of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?
16
And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen has not done
wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the peoples that are
in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.
17
For this deed of the queen will come abroad to all women, to make their husbands contemptible
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
And this day will the princesses of Persia and Media who have heard of the deed of
the queen say [the like] to all the king`s princes. So [will there arise] much contempt
and anger.
19
If it please the king, let there go forth 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
to another that is better than she.
20
And when the king`s decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his
kingdom (for it is great), all the wives will give to their husbands honor, 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
its writing, and to every people after their language, that every man should
bear rule in his own house, and should speak according to the language of his people.