1:1 Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this [is]
Ahasuerus who reigned from India even to Cush, [over] a hundred
and seven and twenty provinces:)
1:2 [That] in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the
throne of his kingdom, which [was] in Shushan the palace,
1:3 In the third year of his reign, he made a feast to all his
princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the
nobles and princes of the provinces, [being] before him:
1:4 When he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the
honor of his excellent majesty many days, [even] a hundred and
eighty days.
1:5 And when these days had expired, the king made a feast for
all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both
for great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of
the king's palace;
1:6 [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.
1:7 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.
1:8 And the drinking [was] according to the law; none
constrained: for so the king had appointed to all the officers
of his house, that they should do according to every man's
pleasure.
1:9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women [in] the
royal house which [belonged] to king Ahasuerus.
1:10 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,
1:11 To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown
royal, to show the people and the princes her beauty: for she
[was] fair to look on.
1:12 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.
1:13 Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times,
(for so [was] the king's manner towards all that knew law and
judgment:
1:14 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;)
1:15 What shall we do to the queen Vashti according to law,
because she hath not performed the commandment of the king
Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?
1:16 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.
1:17 For [this] deed of the queen will come abroad to all women,
so that they will 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.
1:18 [Likewise] will the ladies of Persia and Media say this day
to all the king's princes, who have heard of the deed of the
queen. Thus [will there arise] too much contempt and wrath.
1:19 If it pleaseth the king, let a royal commandment go 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
to another that is better than she.
1:20 And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be
published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the
wives will give to their husbands honor, both to great and
small.
1:21 And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the
king did according to the word of Memucan:
1:22 For he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into
every province according to the writing of it, 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.
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