Esther 1
1 And it was in [the] days of Ahasuerus that Ahasuerus who reigned from India and to Cush seven and twenty and one hundred province[s].
This is what happened in the days of Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces from India to Cush.
2 In the days those when sat - the king Ahasuerus on [the] throne of royalty his which [was] in Susa the citadel.
In those days King Xerxes sat on his royal throne in the citadel of Susa.
3 In year three of reigning his he made a feast for all officials his and servants his [the] army of - Persia and Media the nobles and [the] officials of the provinces [were] before him.
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.
4 When showed he [the] wealth of [the] splendor of kingdom his and [the] honor of [the] glory of greatness his days many eighty and one hundred day[s].
And for a full 180 days he displayed the glorious riches of his kingdom and the magnificent splendor of his greatness.
5 And when were completed - the days these he made the king for all the people who were found in Susa the citadel from great and unto insignificant a feast seven days in [the] court of [the] garden of [the] palace of the king.
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.
6 White material - cotton and violet material [was] held with cords of fine linen and purple on rods of silver and pillars of marble couches of - gold and silver on a pavement of porphyry and marble and mother-of-pearl and paving stone.
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.
7 And they gave to drink in vessels of gold and vessels from vessels [were] differing and wine of royalty [was] much according to [the] hand of the king.
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.
8 And the drinking [was] according to the law there not [was one who] compelled for thus - he had appointed the king on every chief of house his to do according to [the] pleasure of man and man.
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.
9 Also Vashti the queen she made a feast of women [the] house of royalty which [belonged] to the king Ahasuerus.
Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.
10 On the day seventh when was good [the] heart of the king by the wine he said to Mehuman Biztha Harbona Bigtha and Abagtha Zethar and Carcas [the] seven the eunuchs who served with [the] face of the king Ahasuerus.
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—
11 To bring Vashti the queen before the king with a crown of royalty to show the peoples and the officials beauty her for [was] good of appearance she.
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.
12 And she refused the queen Vashti to come at [the] word of the king which [was] by [the] hand of the eunuchs and he was angry the king exceedingly and rage his it burned in him.
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.
13 And he said the king to wise men [who] knew the times for [was] thus [the] manner of the king before all [those who] knew law and judgment.
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.
14 And the [ones] close to him [were] Carshena Shethar Admatha Tarshish Meres Marsena Memucan [the] seven [the] officials of - Persia and Media [who] saw [the] face of the king who sat foremost in the kingdom.
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.
15 According to [the] law what? [is] to do with the queen Vashti on - that not she did [the] command of the king Ahasuerus by [the] hand of the eunuchs.
“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?”
16 And he said (Memucan *Q(k)*) before the king and the officials not on the king to only him she did wrong Vashti the queen for on all the officials and on all the peoples which [are] in all [the] provinces of the king Ahasuerus.
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.
17 For it will go forth [the] matter of the queen to all the women to make despicable husbands their in view their because will say they the king Ahasuerus he said to bring Vashti the queen before him and not she came.
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.’
18 And the day this they will say - [the] noble ladies of Persia and Media who they have heard [the] matter of the queen to all [the] officials of the king and [will be] as enough of contempt and anger.
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.
19 If [is] on the king good let it go forth a word of royalty from to before him and let it be written in [the] laws of Persia and Media and not it will pass away that not she will come Vashti before the king Ahasuerus and queenhood her let him give the king to fellow woman her good more than she.
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.
20 And it will be heard [the] decree of the king which he will make in all kingdom his for [is] great it and all the women they will give honor to husbands their from great and unto insignificant.
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.”
21 And it was good the word in [the] eyes of the king and the officials and he did the king according to [the] word of Memucan.
The king and his princes were pleased with this counsel; so the king did as Memucan had advised.
22 And he sent out documents to all [the] provinces of the king to province and province according to writing its and to people and people according to language its to be every man ruler in own household his and speaking according to [the] language of people his.
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.
