Esther 1
1 In the days of Artaxerxes, who reigned from India to Ethiopia over one hundred twenty-seven provinces,
En tiempo de Asuero —ese Asuero reinó desde la India hasta la Etiopía sobre ciento veinte y siete provincias—,
2 when he sat on the throne of his kingdom, the city of Susa was the root of his kingdom.
en aquel tiempo en que el rey Asuero se sentaba sobre su trono real en Susa, la capital,
3 And so, in the third year of his reign, he made a great feast for all the leaders and his servants, for the most powerful among the Persians and the distinguished among the Medes, and for the rulers of the provinces before him,
el año tercero de su reinado, dio un festín a todos sus príncipes y ministros, estando en su presencia también (los jefes) del ejército de los persas y de los medos, y los grandes y gobernadores de las provincias.
4 so that he might show the glorious riches of his kingdom, as well as its greatness, and so boast of his power, for a long time, namely, one hundred and eighty days.
Con esta ocasión hizo delante de ellos ostentación de la riqueza y magnificencia de su reino y del pomposo esplendor de su grandeza, durante mucho tiempo, (a saber), durante ciento ochenta días.
5 And when the days of the feast were nearly completed, he invited all the people, who had been found in Susa, from the greatest even to the least, and he commanded a feast to be prepared, for seven days, in the court of the garden and the arboretum, which had been planted by the care and by the hand of the king.
Pasados estos días, el rey dio a todo el pueblo, a grandes y chicos que se hallaban en Susa, la capital, un festín en el patio del jardín del palacio real.
6 And, in every direction, tents the color of the sky and of flax as well as hyacinth were hung up, suspended by cords of linen and even purple, which had been placed through rings of ivory and were held up with marble columns. The couches also, of gold and silver, had been arranged over a pavement of emerald-green, bearing scattered jewels, which was decorated with a wonderful variety of images.
Había toldos blancos, verdes y azules, sujetos con cordones de lino fino y de púrpura a anillos de plata y a columnas de mármol. Divanes de oro y de plata descansaban sobre un pavimento de pórfido, de mármol blanco, nácar y mármol negro.
7 Moreover, those who had been invited drank from golden cups, and dishes of foods were brought in one after another. Likewise, choice wine was presented in abundance, as was worthy of royal magnificence.
Se servían las bebidas en vasos de oro, de variadas formas, y el vino real en abundancia como correspondía a la liberalidad del rey.
8 Nor was anyone compelled to drink who was unwilling, but, just as the king had appointed, one of his nobles was set over each table, so that each one might select what he wanted.
Según la orden del rey cada uno bebía sin que nadie le obligase, pues el rey había mandado a todos los intendentes de su casa que actuaran conforme al gusto de cada uno.
9 Likewise, Vashti the queen made a feast for the women, in the palace where king Artaxerxes was accustomed to stay the night.
También la reina Vasti dio un festín a las mujeres en el palacio real del rey Asuero.
10 And so, on the seventh day, when the king was more cheerful, and, after excessive drinking, had become warmed with wine, he ordered Mehuman, and Biztha, and Harbona, and Bigtha, and Abagtha, and Zethar, and Charkas, seven eunuchs who served in his presence,
El día séptimo, el rey cuyo corazón estaba alegre a causa del vino, mandó a Mehumán, Biztá, Harboná, Bigtá, Abagtá, Setar y Carcas, los siete eunucos que servían delante del rey Asuero,
11 to bring in queen Vashti before the king, with the crown set upon her head, to show her beauty to the whole people and to the leaders, for she was very beautiful.
que condujesen a su presencia a la reina Vasti, con la diadema real, para mostrar a la gente y a los grandes su belleza, pues era de extremada belleza.
12 She refused, and she showed contempt towards the king’s command, which he had delivered to her by the eunuchs. Whereupon the king, being angry and inflamed with a very great fury,
La reina Vasti, empero, desacató la orden que el rey había mandado por medio de los eunucos, por lo cual el rey se irritó mucho y se encendió en él su cólera.
13 questioned the wise men, who, according to royal custom were always near him and all he did was by their counsel, who knew the laws as well as the judgments of their ancestors,
Entonces el rey consultó a los sabios, conocedores de las costumbres, porque así respetaba el rey a todos los conocedores de la ley y del derecho.
14 (but first and foremost were Carshena, and Shethar, and Admatha, and Tarshish, and Meres, and Marsena, and Memucan, seven rulers of the Persians as well as the Medes, who saw the face of the king and who were accustomed to sitting down first after him, )
Los más allegados a él eran Carsená, Setar, Admata, Tarsís, Meres, Marsená y Memucán, siete príncipes de Persia y Media, que veían la cara del rey y ocupaban el primer rango en el reino.
15 as to what sentence should fall upon Vashti the queen, who had refused to do the commandment of king Artaxerxes, which he had delivered to her by the eunuchs.
(Les preguntó: ) “Según la ley, ¿qué se debe hacer con la reina Vasti, por no haber obedecido la orden del rey Asuero enviada por medio de los eunucos?”
16 And Memucan answered, in the hearing of the king as well as the rulers, “Queen Vashti has wounded not only the king, but also all the people and the leaders, who are in all the provinces of king Artaxerxes.
Respondió Memucán, delante del rey y los príncipes: “La reina Vasti no, solo ha ofendido al rey, sino a todos los príncipes y a todos los pueblos que están en todas las provincias del rey Asuero.
17 For word about the queen will go out to all the women, so that they will show contempt for their husbands, and they will say, ‘King Artaxerxes ordered that queen Vashti should enter before him, and she would not.’
Porque lo hecho por la reina llegará a oídos de todas las mujeres; por lo cual estas menospreciarán a sus maridos, diciendo: “El rey Asuero mandó que presentasen delante de él a la reina Vasti, y ella no fue.
18 And so, by this example all the wives of the leaders of the Persians and the Medes will belittle the authority of their husbands; therefore, the indignation of the king is just.
Desde hoy las princesas de Persia y Media, tan pronto como sepan este ejemplo de la reina, dirán (lo mismo) a todos los príncipes del rey; de donde resultarán muchos desprecios y mucha indignación.
19 If it pleases you, let an edict be sent out from your presence, and let it be written according to the law of the Persians and the Medes, which it is forbidden to disregard, that Vashti shall no longer enter before the king, but let another, who is better than her, receive her queenship.
Si al rey le agrada, promúlguese un edicto real de su parte, y escríbase entre las leyes de los persas y medos, para que no haya más transgresiones: “Que Vasti no aparezca más ante el rey Asuero; y en cuanto a su dignidad real, otórguela el rey a otra que sea mejor que ella.
20 And let this be published in all the provinces of your empire, (which is very wide, ) and let all wives, the greater as much as the lesser, give honor to their husbands.”
El edicto que el rey va a promulgar será conocido en todo su reino, por grande que sea, y todas las mujeres respetarán a sus maridos, desde el más grande hasta el más pequeño.”
21 His counsel pleased the king and the rulers, and the king acted according to the counsel of Memucan,
Este consejo pareció bien al rey y a los príncipes; e hizo el rey conforme al parecer de Memucán.
22 and he sent letters to all the provinces of his kingdom, so that every nation was able to hear and to read, in various languages and letters, that husbands are to be the greater rulers in their own houses, and that this should be published to every people.
Envió cartas a todas las provincias del rey, a cada provincia en la escritura correspondiente y a cada pueblo en su lengua, (ordenando) que todo marido había de ser señor en su casa, y que esto se publicase en el lenguaje de cada pueblo.
