Esther 1

¹ Now it happened in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus who reigned from India even to Ethiopia over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces,) ² that in those days when 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 for 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 for many days, even a hundred and eighty days.

⁵ And when these days were completed, the king made a feast for all the people who 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 white, green, and blue hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble; and couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and costly stones. ⁷ Also they gave drink in vessels of gold, vessels of different kinds, and royal wine in abundance, according to the bounty of the king.

⁸ And the drinking was according to the law; none compelled; for so the king had commanded all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man’s pleasure. ⁹ Also Queen Vashti 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, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus, ¹¹ to bring Queen Vashti before the king with the crown royal, to show the people and the princes her beauty; for she was fair to look on. ¹² But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by the chamberlains; therefore the king was 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 with all who knew law and judgment; ¹⁴ and the next to him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king’s face, and who sat the first in the kingdom), ¹⁵ “What shall we do to Queen Vashti according to law, because she has not performed the commandment of King Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?”

¹⁶ Then Memucan answered before the king and the princes: “Queen Vashti has not only wronged the king, but also all the princes, and all the people who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. ¹⁷ For the queen’s behavior will be known to all women, so that they will despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, ‘The king commanded Queen Vashti to be brought in before him, and she came not.’ ¹⁸ This day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s behavior will say the same to all the king’s princes, and there will be much contempt and wrath.

¹⁹ Therefore, if it pleases the king, let a royal commandment go out from him, and let it be written among the laws of Persia and Media, that it be not altered, that Vashti come no more before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate to another who is better than she. ²⁰ When the king’s decree which he shall make is published throughout all his kingdom (for it is great), all the women shall give honor to their husbands, both to great and small.”

²¹ The saying pleased the king, and he did so. He sent letters to all the king’s provinces, to each province according to its writing, and to every people according to their language, that every man should be master in his house, and speak according to the language of his people.