1Now it came to pass in the days3117 of Ahasuerus325, (this is Ahasuerus325 which reigned4427, from India1912 even unto Ethiopia3568, over an hundred3967 and seven7651 and twenty6242 provinces4082:)
2That in those days3117, when the king4428 Ahasuerus325 sat3427 on the throne3678 of his kingdom4438, which was in Shushan7800 the palace1002,
3In the third7969 year8141 of his reign4427, he made6213 a feast4960 unto all his princes8269 and his servants5650; the power2428 of Persia6539 and Media4074, the nobles6579 and princes8269 of the provinces4082, being before6440 him:
4When he shewed7200 the riches6239 of his glorious3519 kingdom4438 and the honour3366 of his excellent8597 majesty1420 many7227 days3117, even an hundred3967 and fourscore8084 days3117.
5And when these days3117 were expired4390, the king4428 made6213 a feast4960 unto all the people5971 that were present4672 in Shushan7800 the palace1002, both unto great1419 and small6996, seven7651 days3117, in the court2691 of the garden1594 of the king's4428 palace1055;
6Where were white2353, green3768, and blue8504, hangings, fastened270 with cords2256 of fine linen948 and purple713 to silver3701 rings1550 and pillars5982 of marble8336: the beds4296 were of gold2091 and silver3701, upon a pavement7531 of red923, and blue8504, and white1858, and black5508, marble8336.
7And they gave them drink8248 in vessels3627 of gold2091, (the vessels3627 being diverse8138 one from another3627,) and royal4438 wine3196 in abundance7227, according to the state3027 of the king4428.
8And the drinking8360 was according to the law1881; none did compel597: for so the king4428 had appointed3245 to all the officers7227 of his house1004, that they should do6213 according to every man's376 pleasure7522.
9Also Vashti2060 the queen4436 made6213 a feast4960 for the women802 in the royal4438 house1004 which belonged to king4428 Ahasuerus325.
10On the seventh7637 day3117, when the heart3820 of the king4428 was merry2896 with wine3196, he commanded559 Mehuman4104, Biztha968, Harbona2726, Bigtha903, and Abagtha5, Zethar2242, and Carcas3752, the seven7651 chamberlains5631 that served8334 in the presence6440 of Ahasuerus325 the king4428,
11To bring935 Vashti2060 the queen4436 before6440 the king4428 with the crown3804 royal4438, to shew7200 the people5971 and the princes8269 her beauty3308: for she was fair2896 to look on4758.
12But the queen4436 Vashti2060 refused3985 to come935 at the king's4428 commandment1697 by3027 his chamberlains5631: therefore was the king4428 very3966 wroth7107, and his anger2534 burned1197 in him.
13Then the king4428 said559 to the wise men2450, which knew3045 the times6256, (for so was the king's4428 manner1697 toward6440 all that knew3045 law1881 and judgment1779:
14And the next7138 unto him was Carshena3771, Shethar8369, Admatha133, Tarshish8659, Meres4825, Marsena4826, and Memucan4462, the seven7651 princes8269 of Persia6539 and Media4074, which saw7200 the king's4428 face6440, and which sat3427 the first7223 in the kingdom4438;)
15What shall we do6213 unto the queen4436 Vashti2060 according to law1881, because she hath not performed6213 the commandment3982 of the king4428 Ahasuerus325 by3027 the chamberlains5631?
16And Memucan4462 answered559 before6440 the king4428 and the princes8269, Vashti2060 the queen4436 hath not done wrong5753 to the king4428 only, but also to all the princes8269, and to all the people5971 that are in all the provinces4082 of the king4428 Ahasuerus325.
17For this deed1697 of the queen4436 shall come abroad3318 unto all women802, so that they shall despise959 their husbands1167 in their eyes5869, when it shall be reported559, The king4428 Ahasuerus325 commanded559 Vashti2060 the queen4436 to be brought in935 before6440 him, but she came935 not.
18Likewise shall the ladies8282 of Persia6539 and Media4074 say559 this day3117 unto all the king's4428 princes8269, which have heard8085 of the deed1697 of the queen4436. Thus shall there arise too much1767 contempt963 and wrath7110.
19If it please2895 the king4428, let there go3318 a royal4438 commandment1697 from him6440, and let it be written3789 among the laws1881 of the Persians6539 and the Medes4074, that it be not altered5674, That Vashti2060 come935 no more before6440 king4428 Ahasuerus325; and let the king4428 give5414 her royal estate4438 unto another7468 that is better2896 than she.
20And when the king's4428 decree6599 which he shall make6213 shall be published8085 throughout all his empire4438, (for it is great7227,) all the wives802 shall give5414 to their husbands1167 honour3366, both to great1419 and small6996.
21And the saying1697 pleased3190 5869 the king4428 and the princes8269; and the king4428 did6213 according to the word1697 of Memucan4462:
22For he sent7971 letters5612 into all the king's4428 provinces4082, into every province4082 according to the writing3791 thereof, and to every people5971 after their language3956, that every man376 should bear rule8323 in his own house1004, and that it should be published1696 according to the language3956 of every people5971.