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 an account of what happened during the time of King Xerxes, the Xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia.
2 In the days those when sat - the king Ahasuerus on [the] throne of royalty his which [was] in Susa the citadel.
At the time King Xerxes was ruling from his royal throne at the fortress in 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 he organized a feast for his officials and administrators. The army commanders of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the provincial officials were all there with him.
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].
He put on display his wealth and the glory of his kingdom, showing how majestic, splendid, and glorious he was, for 180 days.
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.
After that the king gave a feast lasting for seven days for all the people, great and small, who were there in the fortress of Susa in the garden courtyard of the king's pavilion.
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.
It was decorated with white and blue cotton curtains tied with cords of fine linen and purple thread on silver rings, held up by marble pillars. Gold and silver couches were placed on a pavement made of purple porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and expensive 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.
Drinks were served in golden goblets of different kinds, and the royal wine flowed freely because of the king's generosity.
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.
The king had ruled that there was to be no limit on how much a guest could drink; he had told his servants to give each guest whatever they wanted.
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 feast for the women in the palace that belonged to 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 of the feast, the king, feeling happy from drinking wine, ordered the seven eunuchs who were his attendants, Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Karkas,
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 to him wearing her royal headdress, so he could show her beauty to the people and officials, for she was very good-looking.
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.
But when the eunuchs delivered the order from the king, Queen Vashti refused to come. The king became extremely angry—he was absolutely furious.
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 spoke with the wise men who would know what to do, for it was the custom for him to ask the opinion of experts in procedures and legal matters.
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.
Those closest to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan. They were the seven nobles of Persia and Media who had frequent meetings with the king and had the highest positions 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.
“What does the law say should be done with Queen Vashti?” he asked. “She refused to obey the direct order of King Xerxes as 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.
Memucan gave his answer before the king and the nobles, “Queen Vashti hasn't just insulted the king but all the nobles and all the people of 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.
Once it gets out what the queen has done, all wives will despise their husbands, looking down on them and telling them, ‘King Xerxes ordered Queen Vashti brought to him but she didn't 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.
By the end of the day, the wives of all the nobles throughout Persia and Media who have heard what the queen did will treat their noble husbands with angry contempt!
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.
If it please Your Majesty, issue a royal decree, in accordance with the laws of Persia and Media which cannot be changed, that Vashti is banished from the presence of King Xerxes, and that Your Majesty will give her royal position to another, one who is better than her.
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.
When Your Majesty's decree is proclaimed throughout your vast empire, all wives will respect their husbands, highborn or lowborn.”
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.
This advice looked good to the king and the nobles, so the king did what Memucan had said.
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 provinces in the empire, in each province's script and language, that every man should rule his own home, and use his own mother tongue.
