Esther 1
1 This is what happened in the days of Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces from India to Cush.
I Ahasverus's Dage — den Ahasverus, der herskede over Landene fra Indien til Ætiopien, 127 Lande —
2 In those days King Xerxes sat on his royal throne in the citadel of Susa.
i hine Dage, da Kong Ahasverus sad paa sin Kongetrone i Borgen Susan, tildrog der sig følgende.
3 In the third year of his reign, Xerxes held a feast for all his officials and servants. The military leaders of Persia and Media were there, along with the nobles and princes of the provinces.
I sit tredje Regeringsaar gjorde han et Gæstebud for alle sine Fyrster og sine Folk; Persiens og Mediens ypperste Hærførere og Landsdelenes Fyrster var hans Gæster,
4 And for a full 180 days he displayed the glorious riches of his kingdom and the magnificent splendor of his greatness.
og han udfoldede sin kongelige Herligheds Rigdom og sin Magts Glans og Pragt for dem i mange Dage, 180 Dage.
5 At the end of this time, in the garden court of the royal palace, the king held a seven-day feast for all the people in the citadel of Susa, from the least to the greatest.
Og da disse Dage var omme, gjorde Kongen for hele Folket i Borgen Susan, fra den højeste til den laveste, et syv Dages Gæstebud paa den aabne Plads foran Parken ved Kongeborgen.
6 Hangings of white and blue linen were fastened with cords of fine white and purple material to silver rings on the marble pillars. Gold and silver couches were arranged on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and other costly stones.
Hvidt Linned og violet Purpur var med Snore af fint Linned og rødt Purpur hængt op paa Sølvstænger og Marmorsøjler, og Guld— og Sølvdivaner stod paa et Gulv, der var indlagt med broget og hvidt Marmor, Perlemor og sorte Sten.
7 Beverages were served in an array of goblets of gold, each with a different design, and the royal wine flowed freely, according to the king’s bounty.
Drikkene skænkedes i Guldbægre, alle forskellige, og der var kongelig Vin i store Maader paa ægte Fyrstevis;
8 By order of the king, no limit was placed on the drinking, and every official of his household was to serve each man whatever he desired.
og ved Drikkelaget gjaldt den Regel, at man ikke nødte nogen; thi Kongen havde paalagt alle sine Hovmestre at lade enhver om, hvor meget han vilde have.
9 Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.
Ogsaa Dronning Vasjti gjorde et Gæstebud for Kvinderne i Kong Ahasverus's Kongeborg.
10 On the seventh day, when the king’s heart was merry with wine, he ordered the seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas—
Da Kongen den syvende Dag var oprømt af Vinen, bød han Mehuman, Bizta, Harbona, Bigta, Abagta, Zetar og Karkas, de syv Hofmænd, som stod i Kong Ahasverus's Tjeneste,
11 to bring Queen Vashti before him, wearing her royal crown, to display her beauty to the people and officials. For she was beautiful to behold.
at føre Dronning Vasjti, prydet med det kongelige Diadem, frem for Kongen, for at han kunde vise Folkene og Fyrsterne hendes Dejlighed. Thi hun var meget smuk.
12 Queen Vashti, however, refused to come at the king’s command brought by his eunuchs. And the king became furious, and his anger burned within him.
Men Dronning Vasjti vægrede sig ved at komme paa Kongens Bud, som Hofmændene overbragte. Da blev Kongen harmfuld, og Vreden blussede op i ham.
13 Then the king consulted the wise men who knew the times, for it was customary for him to confer with the experts in law and justice.
Og Kongen spurgte de vise, som kendte til Tidernes Tydning — thi Kongens Ord blev efter Skik og Brug forelagt alle de Lov— og Retskyndige,
14 His closest advisors were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media who had personal access to the king and ranked highest in the kingdom.
og de, der stod ham nærmest, var Karsjena, Sjetar, Admata, Tarsjisj, Meres, Marsena og Memukan, de syv persiske og mediske Fyrster, som saa Kongens Aasyn og havde den øverste Magt i Riget —:
15 “According to law,” he asked, “what should be done with Queen Vashti, since she refused to obey the command of King Xerxes delivered by the eunuchs?”
»Hvad skal der efter Loven gøres ved Dronning Vasjti, fordi hun ikke adlød den Befaling, Kong Ahasverus gav hende ved Hofmændene?«
16 And in the presence of the king and his princes, Memucan replied, “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king, but all the princes and the peoples in all the provinces of King Xerxes.
Da sagde Memukan i Kongens og Fyrsternes Paahør: »Dronning Vasjti har ikke alene forbrudt sig imod Kongen, men ogsaa imod alle Fyrster og alle Folk i alle Kong Ahasverus's Lande;
17 For the conduct of the queen will become known to all women, causing them to despise their husbands and say, ‘King Xerxes ordered Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she did not come.’
thi Dronningens Opførsel vil rygtes blandt alle Kvinderne, og Følgen bliver, at de viser deres Mænd Ringeagt, naar det hedder sig: Kong Ahasverus bød, at man skulde føre Dronning Vasjti til ham, men hun kom ikke!
18 This very day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard about the queen’s conduct will say the same thing to all the king’s officials, resulting in much contempt and wrath.
Og saa snart de hører om Dronningens Adfærd, lader Persiens og Mediens Fyrstinder alle Kongens Fyrster det høre; deraf kan der kun komme Ringeagt og Vrede.
19 So if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree, and let it be recorded in the laws of Persia and Media so that it cannot be repealed, that Vashti shall never again enter the presence of King Xerxes, and that her royal position shall be given to a woman better than she.
Hvis Kongen synes, saa lade han udgaa et kongeligt Bud, som skal optegnes i Persiens og Mediens Love og være uigenkaldeligt, om at Vasjti aldrig mere maa vise sig for Kong Ahasverus; og Kongen skal give hendes kongelige Værdighed til en anden, som er bedre end hun.
20 The edict the king issues will be heard throughout his vast kingdom—and so all women, from the least to the greatest, will honor their husbands.”
Naar saa den Forordning, Kongen lader udgaa, bliver kendt i hele hans Rige — thi det er stort — da vil alle Kvinderne, baade høje og lave, vise deres Mænd Agtelse.«
21 The king and his princes were pleased with this counsel; so the king did as Memucan had advised.
Det Forslag var godt i Kongens og Fyrsternes Øjne, og Kongen fulgte Memukans Forslag.
22 He sent letters to all the provinces of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language, proclaiming that every man should be master of his own household.
Han sendte Skrivelser til alle Kongens Lande, til hver Landsdel med dens egen Skrift og til hvert Folk paa dets eget Sprog, om at hver Mand skulde være Herre i sit eget Hus og tale sit Folks Sprog.
