Esther 1:9-22

9QueenH4436 VashtiH2060 alsoH1571 gaveH6213 a banquetH4960 for the womenH802 in the 1palaceH1004 whichH834 belonged to KingH4428 AhasuerusH325.

10On the seventhH7637 dayH3117, when the heartH3820 of the kingH4428 was 2merryH2895 with wineH3196, he commandedH559 MehumanH4104, BizthaH968, HarbonaH2726, BigthaH903, AbagthaH5, ZetharH2242 and CarkasH3752, the sevenH7651 eunuchsH5631 who servedH8334 in the presenceH6440 of KingH4428 AhasuerusH325, 11to bringH935 QueenH4436 VashtiH2060 beforeH6440 the kingH4428 with her royalH4438 3crownH3804 in order to displayH7200 her beautyH3308 to the peopleH5971 and the princesH8269, for she was beautifulH2896. 12But QueenH4436 VashtiH2060 refusedH3985 to comeH935 at the king’sH4428 commandH1697 deliveredH3027 by the eunuchsH5631. Then the kingH4428 becameH7107 veryH3966 angryH7107 and his wrathH2534 burnedH1197 within him.

13Then the kingH4428 saidH559 to 4the wiseH2450 menH2450 5who understoodH3045 the timesH6256--for it was the customH1697 of the kingH4428 soH3651 to speak beforeH6440 allH3605 who knewH3045 lawH1881 and justiceH1779 14and were closeH7138 to him: CarshenaH3771, ShetharH8369, AdmathaH133, TarshishH8659, MeresH4825, MarsenaH4826 and MemucanH4462, the sevenH7651 princesH8269 of PersiaH6539 and MediaH4074 6who 7had accessH7200 to the king’sH4428 presenceH6440 and satH3427 in the firstH7223 place in the kingdomH4438-- 15“According to lawH1881, whatH4100 is to be doneH6213 with QueenH4436 VashtiH2060, becauseH5921H834 she did not 8obeyH6213 the commandH3982 of KingH4428 AhasuerusH325 delivered by the eunuchsH5631?” 16In the presenceH6440 of the kingH4428 and the princesH8269, MemucanH4462 saidH559, “QueenH4436 VashtiH2060 has wrongedH5753 not onlyH905 the kingH4428 but also allH3605 the princesH8269 and allH3605 the peoplesH5971 whoH834 are in allH3605 the provincesH4082 of KingH4428 AhasuerusH325. 17For the queen’sH4436 conductH1697 will 9becomeH3318 knownH3318 to allH3605 the womenH802 causing them 10to lookH5869 with contemptH959 on their husbandsH1167 by sayingH559, ‘KingH4428 AhasuerusH325 commandedH559 QueenH4436 VashtiH2060 to be broughtH935 in to his presenceH6440, but she did not comeH935.’ 18ThisH2088 dayH3117 the ladiesH8282 of PersiaH6539 and MediaH4074 whoH834 have heardH8085 of the queen’sH4436 conductH1697 will speakH559 in the same way to allH3605 the king’sH4428 princesH8269, and there will be plentyH1767 of contemptH963 and angerH7110. 19IfH518 it pleasesH2895 the kingH4428, let a royalH4438 11edictH1697 be issuedH3318 by him and let it be writtenH3789 in the lawsH1881 of PersiaH6539 and MediaH4074 so 12that it cannotH3808 13be repealedH5674, that VashtiH2060 may noH3808 longer comeH935 into the presenceH6440 of KingH4428 AhasuerusH325, and let the kingH4428 giveH5414 her royalH4438 positionH4438 to 14anotherH7468 who is moreH4480 worthyH2896 thanH4480 she. 20When the king’sH4428 edictH6599 whichH834 he will makeH6213 is heardH8085 throughout allH3605 his kingdomH4438, 15greatH7227 as it is, then 16allH3605 womenH802 will giveH5414 honorH3366 to their husbandsH1167, greatH1419 and smallH6996.”

21This wordH1697 pleasedH3190H5869 the kingH4428 and the princesH8269, and the kingH4428 didH6213 17as MemucanH4462 proposedH1697. 22So he sentH7971 lettersH5612 to allH3605 the king’sH4428 provincesH4082, 18to eachH4082 provinceH4082 according to its scriptH3791 and to everyH5971 peopleH5971 according to their languageH3956, that everyH3605 manH376 should 19be the masterH8323 in his own houseH1004 and the one who speaksH1696 in the languageH3956 of his own peopleH5971.