Esther 1
1 In the days of Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus who reigned from India as far as Cush, over 127 provinces),
Este es un relato de lo que sucedió durante la época del rey Jerjes, el Jerjes que gobernaba 127 provincias desde la India hasta Etiopía.
2 in those days King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in the fortress of Susa.
En ese momento el rey Jerjes gobernaba desde su trono real en la fortaleza de Susa.
3 In the third year of his reign, he gave a feast to all his officials and his servants. The army of Persia and Media, the noblemen, and governors of the provinces were in his presence.
En el tercer año de su reinado organizó una fiesta para sus funcionarios y administradores. Los comandantes del ejército de Persia y Media, los nobles y los funcionarios provinciales estaban allí con él.
4 He displayed the wealth of the splendor of his kingdom and the honor of the glory of his greatness for many days, for 180 days.
Durante ciento ochenta días exhibió sus riquezas y la gloria de su reino, mostrando lo majestuoso, espléndido y glorioso que era.
5 When these days were completed, the king gave a feast lasting seven days. It was for all the people in the fortress of Susa, from the greatest to the least significant. It was held in the courtyard of the garden of the king's palace.
Después de eso, el rey dio un banquete que duró siete días para todo el pueblo, grande y pequeño, que estaba allí en la fortaleza de Susa, en el patio del jardín del pabellón del rey.
6 The courtyard of the garden was decorated with curtains of white cotton and violet, with cords of fine linen and purple, hung on silver rings from pillars of marble. There were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and colored paving stones.
Estaba decorado con cortinas de algodón blanco y azul atadas con cordones de lino fino e hilo de púrpura sobre anillos de plata, sostenidos por pilares de mármol. Sobre un pavimento de pórfido púrpura, mármol, nácar y piedras costosas se colocaron sofás de oro y plata.
7 Drinks were served in golden cups. Each cup was unique and there was much royal wine that came because of the king's generosity.
Las bebidas se servían en copas de oro de diferentes tipos, y el vino real fluía libremente debido a la generosidad del rey.
8 The drinking was carried out in keeping with the decree, “There must be no compulsion,” for in this way the king had given orders to all the officials of his palace to do according to the desire of each man.
El rey había ordenado que no se limitara la cantidad de bebida de los invitados; había dicho a sus servidores que dieran a cada uno lo que quisiera.
9 Also, Queen Vashti gave a feast for the women in the royal palace of King Ahasuerus.
La reina Vasti también preparó un banquete para las mujeres del palacio que pertenecía al rey Jerjes.
10 On the seventh day, when the king's heart was feeling happy because of the wine, he told Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Karkas (the seven officials who served before him),
El séptimo día del banquete, el rey, sintiéndose feliz por haber bebido vino, ordenó a los siete eunucos que eran sus asistentes, Mehumán, Bizta, Harbona, Bigta, Abagta, Zetar y Carcas,
11 to bring Queen Vashti before him with her royal crown. He wanted to show the people and the officials her beauty, for her features were stunning.
que le trajeran a la reina Vasti con su tocado real, para que pudiera mostrar su belleza al pueblo y a los funcionarios, pues era muy atractiva.
12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the word of the king that had been brought to her by the officials. Then the king became very angry; his rage burned within him.
Pero cuando los eunucos le entregaron la orden del rey, la reina Vastise negó a venir. El rey se enfadó muchísimo; estaba absolutamente furioso.
13 So the king conferred with the men who were known to be wise, who understood the times (for this was the king's procedure toward all who were expert in law and judgment).
Entonces el rey habló con los sabios que sabrían qué hacer, pues era costumbre que pidiera la opinión de expertos en procedimientos y asuntos legales.
14 Now the ones close to him were Karshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memukan, seven princes of Persia and Media. They had access to the king, and they held the highest offices within the kingdom.
Los más cercanos a él eran Carsena, Setar, Admata, Tarsis, Meres, Marsena, y Memucán. Eran los siete nobles de Persia y Media que se reunían frecuentemente con el rey y ocupaban los más altos cargos del reino.
15 “In compliance with the law, what is to be done to Queen Vashti because she did not obey the command of King Ahasuerus, which was brought to her by the officials?”
“¿Qué dice la ley que debe hacerse con la reina Vasti?”, preguntó. “¡Ella se negó a obedecer la orden directa del rey Jerjes dictada por los eunucos!”
16 Memukan said in the presence of the king and the officials, “Not only against the king has Vashti the queen done wrong, but also against all the officials and all the people who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.
Memucán dio su respuesta ante el rey y los nobles: “La reina Vasti no sólo ha insultado al rey, sino a todos los nobles y a todo el pueblo de todas las provincias del rey Jerjes.
17 For the matter of the queen will become known to all women. It will cause them to treat their husbands with contempt. They will say, 'King Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought before him, but she refused.'
Cuando se sepa lo que ha hecho la reina, todas las esposas menospreciarán a sus maridos, los mirarán con desprecio y les dirán: ‘¡El rey Jerjes ordenó que le trajeran a la reina Vasti, pero no vino!’.
18 Before the end of this very day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard of the matter of the queen will say the same thing to all the king's officials. There will be much contempt and anger.
¡Al final del día, las esposas de todos los nobles de toda Persia y de Media que hayan oído lo que hizo la reina, tratarán a sus nobles maridos con airado desprecio!
19 If it pleases the king, let a royal decree be sent out from him, and let it be written in the laws of the Persians and the Medes, which cannot be repealed, that Vashti may no longer come before him. Let the king give her position as queen to another who is better than she.
“Si le place a Su Majestad, emita un decreto real, de acuerdo con las leyes de Persia y de Media que no pueden ser cambiadas, para que Vasti sea desterrada de la presencia del rey Jerjes, y para que Su Majestad le dé su posición real a otra, una que sea mejor que ella.
20 When the king's decree is proclaimed throughout all his vast kingdom, all the wives will honor their husbands, from the greatest to the least significant.”
Cuando el decreto de Su Majestad sea proclamado en todo su vasto imperio, todas las esposas respetarán a sus maridos, sean de alta o baja cuna”.
21 The king and his noblemen were pleased with this advice, and the king did as Memukan proposed.
Este consejo les pareció bien al rey y a los nobles, así que el rey hizo lo que Memucán había dicho.
22 He sent out letters to all the royal provinces, to each province in its own writing, and to each people in their own language. He ordered that every man should be master of his own household. This decree was given in the language of each people in the empire.
Envió cartas a todas las provincias del imperio, en la escritura y la lengua de cada una de ellas, para que cada hombre gobernara su propia casa y utilizara su propia lengua materna.
