Ester 1
1 Og det skete i Ahasverus's Dage (det er den Ahasverus, som regerede fra Indien og indtil Morland over hundrede og syv og tyve Landskaber),
These events happened in the time of Ahasuerus, who ruled over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces from India to Ethiopia
2 i de samme Dage, da Kong Ahasverus sad paa sit Riges Trone, som var i Borgen Susan,
from his royal throne in the fortified palace of Susa.
3 i sin Regerings tredje Aar, gjorde han alle sine Fyrster og sine Tjenere et Gæstebud; Persiens og Mediens Hær, de fornemste og Fyrsterne i Landskaberne vare for hans Ansigt,
In the third year of his reign, the king gave a feast for all his officers and courtiers. The commanders of the military forces of Persia and Media, the nobles and provincial rulers were present
4 der han lod se sit Kongedømmes herlige Rigdom og sin Majestæts prægtige Glans mange Dage, hundrede og firsindstyve Dage.
while for one hundred and eighty days he showed them the glorious riches of his kingdom and the costliness of his magnificent regalia.
5 Og der disse Dage vare forløbne, gjorde Kongen alt Folket, som fandtes i Borgen Susan, baade store og smaa, et Gæstebud i syv Dage i Forgaarden til Haven ved Kongens Palads.
When these days were ended, the king held a banquet for all the people who were present in the royal palace at Susa, high and low alike. It was a seven days’ feast in the enclosed garden of the royal palace.
6 Der hang hvide, grønne og blaa Tæpper, hæftede ved Snorer af kosteligt Lin og Purpur til Sølvringe og til Marmorstøtter; der var Bænke af Guld og Sølv paa et Gulv, der var indlagt med Porfyr og hvidt Marmor og Perlemor og sort Marmor.
There were white and violet cotton curtains fastened to silver rings and pillars of marble with cords of fine purple wool and linen. The couches were of gold and silver placed upon a mosaic pavement of alabaster, white marble, mother-of-pearl, and dark stone.
7 Og man gav dem at drikke i Guldkar, og Karrene vare af forskellig Slags; og der var megen kongelig Vin, saaledes som Kongen formaaede.
Drink was brought in vessels of gold – which were all different – and the king’s wine was provided with royal liberality.
8 Og man drak, som det var foreskrevet: Ingen nødte; thi saa havde Kongen befalet alle sine Hushovmestre, at enhver kunde gøre efter sin frie Villie.
The drinking was unrestricted, for the king had directed all the officers of his household to let each man do as he pleased.
9 Vasthi, Dronningen, gjorde og et Gæstebud for Kvinderne i Kong Ahasverus's kongelige Hus.
Queen Vashti also gave a feast for the women in the King Ahasuerus’ royal palace.
10 Paa den syvende Dag, der Kongens Hjerte var vel til Mode af Vinen, sagde han til Mehuman, Bistha, Harbona, Bigtha og Abagtha, Sethar og Karkas, de syv Kammertjenere, de som tjente for Kong Ahasverus's Ansigt,
On the seventh day, when the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zathar and Carkas, his seven eunuch attendants
11 at de skulde føre Dronning Vasthi frem for Kongens Ansigt med kongelig Krone for at lade Folket og Fyrsterne se hendes Dejlighed; thi hun var dejlig af Anseelse.
to bring Queen Vashti before him with the royal diadem on her head, to show her beauty to the people and the officials, for she was very beautiful.
12 Men Dronning Vasthi vægrede sig ved at komme efter Kongens Ord ved Kammertjenerne; da blev Kongen saare vred, og hans Harme optændtes i ham.
But Queen Vashti refused to come as the king commanded through the eunuchs. Then the king became very angry and his fury burned within him.
13 Og Kongen sagde til de vise, som forstode sig paa Tiderne — thi saaledes blev en Sag fra Kongen forhandlet for alle, som forstode sig paa Lov og Ret;
The king turned to the wise men who knew the precedents, for it was his custom to confer with those wise in law.
14 og de næste hos ham vare: Karsena, Sethar, Admatha, Tarsis, Meres, Marsena, Memukan, de syv Fyrster af Persien og Medien, som saa Kongens Ansigt og som sade øverst i Riget —:
Those next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memucan, seven officials of Persia and Media who had access to the king and were highest in the kingdom.
15 Hvad skal man efter Loven gøre ved Dronning Vasthi, fordi hun ikke har gjort efter Kong Ahasverus's Ord ved Kammertjenerne?
“Queen Vashti”, the king said, “has failed to obey my royal command – the command of King Ahasuerus conveyed through the eunuchs! What does the law say should be done to her?”
16 Og Memukan sagde for Kongens og Fyrsternes Ansigt: Dronning Vasthi har ikke alene forbrudt sig imod Kongen, men imod alle Fyrsterne og imod alle Folkene, som ere i alle Kong Ahasverus's Landskaber.
Memucan replied before the king and the officials, “Queen Vashti has done wrong not only to the king but also to all the officials and to all the peoples in all of the king’s provinces.
17 Thi Dronningens Ord vil komme ud til alle Kvinderne, saa at de foragte deres Mænd for deres Øjne, naar de sige: Kongen, Ahasverus, sagde, at man skulde føre Dronning Vasthi frem for hans Ansigt, og hun kom ikke.
The refusal of the queen will be reported to all the women with the result that it will make them despise their husbands. They will say, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought in before him, but she did not come!’
18 Og paa denne Dag ville Fyrstinderne i Persien og Medien sige ligesaa til alle Kongens Fyrster, naar de have hørt Dronningens Ord; og saa vil der komme nok af Foragt og Vrede.
This very day the ladies of Persia and Media who have heard of the refusal of the queen will tell it to all the king’s officials, and there will be contempt and strife!
19 Dersom det synes Kongen godt, saa udgaa et kongeligt Bud fra ham, og det vorde opskrevet iblandt Persers og Meders Love, saa at det ikke gaar tabt: At Vasthi ikke skal komme for Kong Ahasverus's Ansigt, og hendes kongelige Værdighed give Kongen til hendes Næste, som er bedre end hun.
If it seems best to the king, let him send out a royal edict. Let it be written among the laws of Persia and Media, never to be repealed, that Vashti may never again come before King Ahasuerus. Let the king give her place as queen to another who is more worthy than she.
20 Naar Kongens Befaling høres, som han udsteder i sit ganske Rige — thi det er stort — da skulle alle Kvinderne holde deres Mænd i Ære, baade store og smaa.
When the king’s decree which he makes is heard throughout his kingdom – great as it is – the wives of all classes will give honor to their husbands.”
21 Og det Ord syntes godt for Kongens og Fyrsternes Øjne, og Kongen gjorde efter Memukans Ord.
The proposal pleased the king and the officials, and the king did as Memucan advised.
22 Og han udsendte Breve til alle Kongens Landskaber, til hvert Landskab efter dets Skrift, og til hvert Folk efter dets Tungemaal; at hver Mand skal have Herredømmet i sit Hus og tale efter sit Folks Tungemaal.
He sent letters to all the provinces, to every province in its own system of writing and to every people in their language, that every man should be master in his own house!
