Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus
, (this is Ahasuerus
which reigned
, from India
even unto Ethiopia
, over an hundred
and seven
and twenty
provinces
:)
That in those days, when the king
Ahasuerus
sat
on the throne
of his kingdom
, which was in Shushan
the palace
,
In the third year
of his reign
, he made
a feast
unto all his princes
and his servants
; the power
of Persia
and Media
, the nobles
and princes
of the provinces
, being before
him:
When he shewed the riches
of his glorious
kingdom
and the honour
of his excellent
majesty
many
days
, even an hundred
and fourscore
days
.
And when these days were expired
, the king
made
a feast
unto all the people
that were present
in Shushan
the palace
, both unto great
and small
, seven
days
, in the court
of the garden
of the king's
palace
;
Where were white, green
, and blue
, hangings , fastened
with cords
of fine linen
and purple
to silver
rings
and pillars
of marble
: the beds
were of gold
and silver
, upon a pavement
of red
, and blue
, and white
, and black
, marble
.
And they gave them drink in vessels
of gold
, (the vessels
being diverse
one from another
,) and royal
wine
in abundance
, according to the state
of the king
.
And the drinking was according to the law
; none did compel
: for so the king
had appointed
to all the officers
of his house
, that they should do
according to every man's
pleasure
.
Also Vashti the queen
made
a feast
for the women
in the royal
house
which belonged to king
Ahasuerus
.
On the seventh day
, when the heart
of the king
was merry
with wine
, he commanded
Mehuman
, Biztha
, Harbona
, Bigtha
, and Abagtha
, Zethar
, and Carcas
, the seven
chamberlains
that served
in the presence
of Ahasuerus
the king
,
To bring Vashti
the queen
before
the king
with the crown
royal
, to shew
the people
and the princes
her beauty
: for she was fair
to look on
.
But the queen Vashti
refused
to come
at the king's
commandment
by
his chamberlains
: therefore was the king
very
wroth
, and his anger
burned
in him.
Then the king said
to the wise men
, which knew
the times
, (for so was the king's
manner
toward
all that knew
law
and judgment
:
And the next unto him was Carshena
, Shethar
, Admatha
, Tarshish
, Meres
, Marsena
, and Memucan
, the seven
princes
of Persia
and Media
, which saw
the king's
face
, and which sat
the first
in the kingdom
;)
What shall we do unto the queen
Vashti
according to law
, because she hath not performed
the commandment
of the king
Ahasuerus
by
the chamberlains
?
And Memucan answered
before
the king
and the princes
, Vashti
the queen
hath not done wrong
to the king
only, but also to all the princes
, and to all the people
that are in all the provinces
of the king
Ahasuerus
.
For this deed of the queen
shall come abroad
unto all women
, so that they shall despise
their husbands
in their eyes
, when it shall be reported
, The king
Ahasuerus
commanded
Vashti
the queen
to be brought in
before
him, but she came
not.
Likewise shall the ladies of Persia
and Media
say
this day
unto all the king's
princes
, which have heard
of the deed
of the queen
. Thus shall there arise too much
contempt
and wrath
.
If it please the king
, let there go
a royal
commandment
from him
, and let it be written
among the laws
of the Persians
and the Medes
, that it be not altered
, That Vashti
come
no more before
king
Ahasuerus
; and let the king
give
her royal estate
unto another
that is better
than she.
And when the king's decree
which he shall make
shall be published
throughout all his empire
, (for it is great
,) all the wives
shall give
to their husbands
honour
, both to great
and small
.
And the saying pleased
the king
and the princes
; and the king
did
according to the word
of Memucan
:
For he sent letters
into all the king's
provinces
, into every province
according to the writing
thereof, and to every people
after their language
, that every man
should bear rule
in his own house
, and that it should be published
according to the language
of every people
.