Esther Chapter 1

1Now it came to pass in the daysH3117 of AhasuerusH325 (this is AhasuerusH325 who reignedH4427 from IndiaH1912 even unto Ethiopia, over a hundredH3967 and sevenH7651 and twentyH6242 provincesH4082), 2that in those daysH3117, when the kingH4428 AhasuerusH325 sat on the throneH3678 of his kingdomH4438, which was in Shushan the palace, 3in the third yearH8141 of his reignH4427, he madeH6213 a feastH4960 unto all his princesH8269 and his servantsH5650; the power of PersiaH6539 and MediaH4074, the nobles and princesH8269 of the provincesH4082, being before him; 4when he showedH7200 the richesH6239 of his glorious kingdomH4438 and the honorH3519 of his excellent majesty manyH7227 daysH3117, even a hundredH3967 and fourscore daysH3117. 5And when these daysH3117 were fulfilled, the kingH4428 madeH6213 a feastH4960 unto all the peopleH5971 that were present in Shushan the palaceH1055, both greatH1419 and smallH6996, sevenH7651 daysH3117, in the courtH2691 of the gardenH1594 of the king’sH4428 palaceH1055. 6There were hangings of whiteH2353 cloth, of green, and of blueH8504, fastened with cordsH2256 of fineH8336 linenH8336 and purpleH713 to silverH3701 rings and pillarsH5982 of marble: the couchesH4296 were of goldH2091 and silverH3701, upon a pavementH7531 of red, and whiteH2353, and yellow, and black marble. 7And they gaveH8248 them drinkH8248 in vesselsH3627 of goldH2091 (the vesselsH3627 being diverse one from another), and royal wineH3196 in abundance, according to the bounty of the kingH4428. 8And the drinking was according to the lawH1881; none could compel: for so the kingH4428 had appointedH3245 to all the officers of his houseH1004, that they should do according to every man’sH376 pleasureH7522.

9AlsoH1571 VashtiH2060 the queenH4436 madeH6213 a feastH4960 for the womenH802 in the royal houseH1004 which belonged to kingH4428 AhasuerusH325. 10On the seventhH7637 dayH3117, when the heartH3820 of the kingH4428 was merry with wineH3196, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, HarbonaH2726, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the sevenH7651 chamberlains that ministered in the presenceH6440 of AhasuerusH325 the kingH4428, 11to bringH935 VashtiH2060 the queenH4436 before the kingH4428 with the crownH3804 royal, to showH7200 the peoplesH5971 and the princesH8269 her beautyH3308; for she was fair to lookH7200 on. 12But the queenH4436 VashtiH2060 refusedH3985 to comeH935 at the king’sH4428 commandment by the chamberlains: therefore was the kingH4428 veryH3966 wroth, and his angerH2534 burnedH1197 in him.

13Then the kingH4428 saidH559 to the wiseH2450 men, who knewH3045 the timesH6256 (for soH3651 was the king’sH4428 mannerH1697 toward all that knewH3045 lawH1881 and judgmentH1779; 14and the next unto him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, TarshishH8659, Meres, Marsena, and MemucanH4462, the sevenH7651 princesH8269 of PersiaH6539 and MediaH4074, who sawH7200 the king’sH4428 faceH6440, and satH3427 firstH7223 in the kingdomH4438), 15What shall we do unto the queenH4436 VashtiH2060 according to lawH1881, because she hath not done the bidding of the kingH4428 AhasuerusH325 by the chamberlains? 16And MemucanH4462 answered before the kingH4428 and the princesH8269, VashtiH2060 the queenH4436 hath not done wrong to the kingH4428 onlyH905, but also to all the princesH8269, and to all the peoplesH5971 that are in all the provincesH4082 of the kingH4428 AhasuerusH325. 17For this deed of the queenH4436 will comeH935 abroad unto all womenH802, to make their husbandsH1167 contemptible in their eyesH5869, when it shall be reported, The kingH4428 AhasuerusH325 commanded VashtiH2060 the queenH4436 to be broughtH935 in before him, but she cameH935 not. 18And this dayH3117 will the princesses of PersiaH6539 and MediaH4074 who have heardH8085 of the deed of the queenH4436 sayH559 the like unto all the king’sH4428 princesH8269. So will there arise much contempt and wrathH7110. 19If it please the kingH4428, let there goH3318 forthH3318 a royal commandment from him, and let it be writtenH3789 among the lawsH1881 of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, that VashtiH2060 comeH935 no moreH4480 before kingH4428 AhasuerusH325; and let the kingH4428 giveH5414 her royal estate unto another that is betterH2896 than she. 20And when the king’sH4428 decree which he shall makeH5414 shall be published throughout all his kingdomH4438 (for it is greatH1419), all the wivesH802 will giveH5414 to their husbandsH1167 honorH3366, both to greatH1419 and smallH6996. 21And the saying pleased the kingH4428 and the princesH8269; and the kingH4428 did according to the wordH1697 of MemucanH4462: 22for he sentH7971 lettersH5612 into all the king’sH4428 provincesH4082, into every provinceH4082 according to the writing thereof, and to every peopleH5971 after their languageH3956, that every manH376 should bear ruleH8323 in his own houseH1004, and should speakH1696 according to the languageH3956 of his peopleH5971.