Esther 1
1 NOW IT came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus — this is Ahasuerus who reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over a hundred and seven and twenty provinces —
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),
2 that in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the castle,
i de samme Dage, da Kong Ahasverus sad paa sit Riges Trone, som var i Borgen Susan,
3 in the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the army of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him;
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,
4 when he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty, many days, even a hundred and fourscore days.
der han lod se sit Kongedømmes herlige Rigdom og sin Majestæts prægtige Glans mange Dage, hundrede og firsindstyve Dage.
5 And when these days were fulfilled, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the castle, both great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace;
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.
6 there were hangings of white, fine cotton, and blue, bordered with cords of fine linen and purple, upon silver rods and pillars of marble; the couches were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of green, and white, and shell, and onyx marble.
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.
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 bounty of the king.
Og man gav dem at drikke i Guldkar, og Karrene vare af forskellig Slags; og der var megen kongelig Vin, saaledes som Kongen formaaede.
8 And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel; for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.
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.
9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.
Vasthi, Dronningen, gjorde og et Gæstebud for Kvinderne i Kong Ahasverus's kongelige Hus.
10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Bizzetha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that ministered in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,
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,
11 to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to show the peoples and the princes her beauty; for she was fair to look on.
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.
12 But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by the chamberlains; therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.
Men Dronning Vasthi vægrede sig ved at komme efter Kongens Ord ved Kammertjenerne; da blev Kongen saare vred, og hans Harme optændtes i ham.
13 Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times — for so was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment;
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;
14 and the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king's face, and sat the first in the kingdom:
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 —:
15 'What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, forasmuch as she hath not done the bidding of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?'
Hvad skal man efter Loven gøre ved Dronning Vasthi, fordi hun ikke har gjort efter Kong Ahasverus's Ord ved Kammertjenerne?
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 peoples, that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.
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.
17 For this deed of the queen will come abroad unto all women, to make their husbands contemptible in their eyes, when it will be said: The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.
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.
18 And this day will the princesses of Persia and Media who have heard of the deed of the queen say the like unto all the king's princes. So will there arise enough contempt and wrath.
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.
19 If it please the king, let there go forth a royal commandment 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 that the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.
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.
20 And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his kingdom, great though it be, all the wives will give to their husbands honour, both to great and small.'
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.
21 And the word pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan;
Og det Ord syntes godt for Kongens og Fyrsternes Øjne, og Kongen gjorde efter Memukans Ord.
22 for he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and speak according to the language of his people.
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.
