Esther 1:10-19

10On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was 1cheerful with wine, he ordered Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus, 11to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her royal 2turban in order to display her beauty to the people and the officials, for she was beautiful. 12But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s order 3delivered by the eunuchs. So the king became very angry, and his wrath burned within him.

13Then the king said to 4the wise men 5who understood the times--for it was the custom of the king to speak this way before all who knew Persian law and justice 14and were close to him, namely, Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven officials of Persia and Media 6who 7had access to the king’s presence and sat in the first place in the kingdom-- 15“According to law, what is to be done with Queen Vashti, since she did not 8obey the command of King Ahasuerus 9delivered by the eunuchs?” 16And in the presence of the king and the other officials, Memucan said, “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king but also all the officials and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. 17For the queen’s conduct will 10become known to all the women so as to make their own husbands despicable in their sight, when they say, ‘King Ahasuerus 11commanded that Queen Vashti be brought in to his presence, but she did not come.’ 18And this day the wives of the officials of Persia and Media who have heard about the queen’s conduct will talk about it to all the king’s officials, and there will be plenty of contempt and anger. 19If it pleases the king, let a royal 12edict be issued by him and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media so 13that it cannot 14be repealed, that Vashti may not come into the presence of King Ahasuerus, and let the king give her royal position to 15another who is more worthy than she.