Esther 1
1 In the days of Assuerus, who reigned from India to Ethiopia over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces:
En los días de Asuero (éste es Asuero, que reinó desde la India hasta Etiopía, sobre ciento veintisiete provincias),
2 When he sat on the throne of his kingdom, the city Susan was the capital of his kingdom.
en aquellos días, cuando el rey Asuero se sentó en el trono de su reino, que estaba en el palacio de Susa,
3 Now in the third year of his reign he made a great feast for all the princes, and for his servants, for the most mighty of the Persians, and the nobles of the Medes, and the governors of the provinces in his sight,
en el tercer año de su reinado, hizo una fiesta para todos sus príncipes y sus servidores; el ejército de Persia y de Media, los nobles y los príncipes de las provincias estaban delante de él.
4 That he might shew the riches of the glory of his kingdom, and the greatness, and boasting of his power, for a long time, to wit, for a hundred and fourscore days.
Exhibió las riquezas de su glorioso reino y el honor de su excelente majestad muchos días, hasta ciento ochenta días.
5 And when the days of the feast were expired, he invited all the people that were found in Susan, from the greatest to the least: and commanded a feast to be made seven days in the court of the garden, and of the wood, which was planted by the care and the hand of the king.
Cuando se cumplieron estos días, el rey hizo una fiesta de siete días para todo el pueblo presente en el palacio de Susa, tanto el grande como el pequeño, en el patio del jardín del palacio real.
6 And there were hung up on every side sky coloured, and green, and violet hangings, fastened with cords of silk, and of purple, which were put into rings of ivory, and were held up with marble pillars. The beds also were of gold and silver, placed in order upon a floor paved with porphyry and white marble: which was embellished with painting of wonderful variety.
Había colgaduras de material blanco y azul, sujetas con cordones de lino fino y púrpura a anillos de plata y a columnas de mármol. Los divanes eran de oro y plata, sobre un pavimento de mármol rojo, blanco, amarillo y negro.
7 And they that were invited, drank in golden cups, and the meats were brought in divers vessels one after another. Wine also in abundance and of the best was presented, as was worthy of a king’s magnificence.
Les daban de beber en vasos de oro de diversas clases, incluso vino real en abundancia, según la generosidad del rey.
8 Neither was there any one to compel them to drink that were not willing, but as the king had appointed, who set over every table one of his nobles, that every man might take what he would.
De acuerdo con la ley, la bebida no era obligatoria, pues así lo había ordenado el rey a todos los funcionarios de su casa, para que hicieran lo que cada uno quisiera.
9 Also Vasthi the queen made a feast for the women in the palace, where king Assuerus was used to dwell.
También la reina Vasti hizo un banquete para las mujeres de la casa real que pertenecía al rey Asuero.
10 Now on the seventh day, when the king was merry, and after very much drinking was well warmed with wine, he commanded Mauman, and Bazatha, and Harbona, and Bagatha, and Abgatha, and Zethar, and Charcas, the seven eunuchs that served in his presence,
El séptimo día, cuando el corazón del rey estaba alegre por el vino, ordenó a Mehumán, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha y Abagtha, Zethar y Carcass, los siete eunucos que servían en presencia del rey Asuero,
11 To bring in queen Vasthi before the king, with the crown set upon her head, to shew her beauty to all the people and the princes: for she was exceeding beautiful.
que trajeran a la reina Vasti ante el rey con la corona real, para mostrar al pueblo y a los príncipes su belleza, pues era hermosa.
12 But she refused, and would not come at the king’s commandment, which he had signified to her by the eunuchs. Whereupon the king, being angry, and inflamed with a very great fury,
Pero la reina Vasti se negó a presentarse a la orden del rey por medio de los eunucos. Por eso el rey se enojó mucho, y su ira ardía en él.
13 Baked the wise men, who according to the custom of the kings, were always near his person, and all he did was by their counsel, who knew the laws, and judgments of their forefathers:
Entonces el rey dijo a los sabios, que conocían los tiempos (pues era costumbre del rey consultar a los que conocían la ley y el juicio;
14 (Now the chief and nearest him were, Charsena, and Sethar, and Admatha, and Tharsis, and Mares, and Marsana, and Mamuchan, seven princes of the Persians, and of the Medes, who saw the face of the king, and were used to sit first after him: )
y junto a él estaban Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena y Memucan, los siete príncipes de Persia y de Media, que veían la cara del rey y se sentaban los primeros en el reino),
15 What sentence ought to pass upon Vasthi the queen, who had refused to obey the commandment of king Assuerus, which he had sent to her by the eunuchs?
“¿Qué haremos con la reina Vasti según la ley, porque no ha cumplido la orden del rey Asuero por los eunucos?”
16 And Mamuchan answered, in the hearing of the king and the princes: Queen Vasthi hath not only injured the king, but also all the people and princes that are in all the provinces of king Assuerus.
Memucán respondió ante el rey y los príncipes: “La reina Vasti no ha hecho mal sólo al rey, sino también a todos los príncipes y a todo el pueblo que está en todas las provincias del rey Asuero.
17 For this deed of the queen will go abroad to all women, so that they will despise their husbands, and will say: King Assuerus commanded that queen Vasthi should come in to him, and she would not.
Porque esta acción de la reina será conocida por todas las mujeres, haciéndolas despreciar a sus maridos cuando se diga: ‘El rey Asuero mandó traer a la reina Vasti ante él, pero ella no vino’.
18 And by this example all the wives of the princes of the Persians and the Medes will slight the commandments of their husbands: wherefore the king’s indignation is just.
Hoy, las princesas de Persia y de Media que se han enterado de la acción de la reina lo contarán a todos los príncipes del rey. Esto causará mucho desprecio e ira.
19 If it please thee, let an edict go out from thy presence, and let it be written according to the law of the Persians and of the Medes, which must not be altered, that Vasthi come in no more to the king, but another, that is better than her, be made queen in her place.
“Si al rey le parece bien, que salga de él un mandamiento real y que se escriba entre las leyes de los persas y de los medos, para que no pueda ser alterado, a fin de que Vasti no vuelva a presentarse ante el rey Asuero; y que el rey dé su patrimonio real a otra que sea mejor que ella.
20 And let this be published through all the provinces of thy empire, (which is very wide, ) and let all wives, as well of the greater as of the lesser, give honour to their husbands.
Cuando se publique en todo el reino el decreto del rey que él hará (porque es grande), todas las mujeres darán honor a sus maridos, tanto a los grandes como a los pequeños.”
21 His counsel pleased the king, and the princes: and the king did according to the counsel of Mamuchan.
Este consejo agradó al rey y a los príncipes, y el rey hizo conforme a la palabra de Memucán:
22 And he sent letters to all the provinces of his kingdom, as every nation could hear and read, in divers languages and characters, that the husbands should be rulers and masters in their houses: and that this should be published to every people.
pues envió cartas a todas las provincias del rey, a cada provincia según su escritura, y a cada pueblo en su lengua, para que cada uno gobernara su casa, hablando en la lengua de su pueblo.
