Esther 1
1 In the days of Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus who reigned from India as far as Cush, over 127 provinces),
En los días de Asuero (éste es Asuero, que reinó desde la India hasta Etiopía, sobre ciento veintisiete provincias),
2 in those days King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in the fortress of Susa.
en aquellos días, cuando el rey Asuero se sentó en el trono de su reino, que estaba en el palacio 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, 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 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.
Exhibió las riquezas de su glorioso reino y el honor de su excelente majestad muchos días, hasta ciento ochenta días.
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.
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 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.
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 Drinks were served in golden cups. Each cup was unique and there was much royal wine that came because of the king's generosity.
Les daban de beber en vasos de oro de diversas clases, incluso vino real en abundancia, según 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.
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, Queen Vashti gave a feast for the women in the royal palace of King Ahasuerus.
También la reina Vasti hizo un banquete para las mujeres de la casa real que pertenecía al rey Asuero.
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, 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.
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 “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 haremos con la reina Vasti según la ley, porque no ha cumplido la orden del rey Asuero 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 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 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.'
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 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.
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 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 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 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 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 The king and his noblemen were pleased with this advice, and the king did as Memukan proposed.
Este consejo agradó al rey y a los príncipes, y el rey hizo conforme a la palabra de Memucán:
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.
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.
