< Ester 1 >

1 Fia Ahasuerus nye fia ɖe Media kple Persianyigbawo dzi. Eɖu fia ɖe dukɔ alafa ɖeka kple blaeve-vɔ-adre dzi, tso India yi keke Kus.
These events happened in the time of Ahasuerus, who ruled over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces from India to Ethiopia
2 Le ɣe ma ɣi me la, Fia Ahasuerus nɔ eƒe fiazikpui dzi le Susa mɔ gã la me.
from his royal throne in the fortified palace of Susa.
3 Le eƒe fiaɖuɖu ƒe ƒe etɔ̃lia me la, eɖo kplɔ̃ gã aɖe ɖe Susa fiasã la me. Ekpe bubumewo, fiaŋumewo kple aʋakplɔlawo kple ame ŋkutawo tso Media kple Persia ƒe nutowo katã me.
In the third year of his reign, the king gave a feast for all his officers and courtiers. The commanders of the military forces of Persia and Media, the nobles and provincial rulers were present
4 Woɖu ŋkekenyui sia ŋkeke alafa ɖeka kple blaenyi sɔŋ, eye wòɖe dziɖuɖu ƒe kesinɔnuwo kple bubu fia.
while for one hundred and eighty days he showed them the glorious riches of his kingdom and the costliness of his magnificent regalia.
5 Esi wowu ŋkekenyui gã sia ɖuɖu nu la, Fia la ɖo kplɔ̃ tɔxɛ na fiasã la me nɔlawo, amegãwo kple subɔlawo siaa, ŋkeke adre le xɔxɔnu si le abɔ la ŋgɔ le Susa mɔ gã la me.
When these days were ended, the king held a banquet for all the people who were present in the royal palace at Susa, high and low alike. It was a seven days’ feast in the enclosed garden of the royal palace.
6 Wotsi avɔ, ɣitɔ kple blɔtɔ siwo ŋu wosa aklala kple aɖabɛ dzĩtɔ ƒe kawo ɖo la ɖe klosalosigɛ siwo wowɔ ɖe sɔti siwo wotu kple kpe xɔasiwo me la ŋu. Sikazikpuiwo kple klosalozikpuiwo nɔ gbadzaƒe si wowɔ kple kpe xɔasi yibɔtɔwo, dzĩtɔwo, ɣitɔwo kple aŋgbaɖiɖitɔwo.
There were white and violet cotton curtains fastened to silver rings and pillars of marble with cords of fine purple wool and linen. The couches were of gold and silver placed upon a mosaic pavement of alabaster, white marble, mother-of-pearl, and dark stone.
7 Wona wain ameawo ɖe sikakplu siwo to vovo tso wo nɔewo gbɔ la me. Wain si fia la na amewo la sɔ gbɔ ŋutɔ.
Drink was brought in vessels of gold – which were all different – and the king’s wine was provided with royal liberality.
8 Le fia la ƒe sedede nu la, ame sia ame ano wain agbɔsɔsɔ si eya ŋutɔ di be yeano la. Fia la ɖo na eƒe ahakulawo be woaɖe asi le ame sia ame ŋu wòawɔ nu si dze eŋu.
The drinking was unrestricted, for the king had directed all the officers of his household to let each man do as he pleased.
9 Fianyɔnu Vasti hã ɖo kplɔ̃ gã aɖe na nyɔnu siwo nɔ Fia Ahasuerus ƒe fiasã la me ɣe ma ɣi tututu.
Queen Vashti also gave a feast for the women in the King Ahasuerus’ royal palace.
10 Le ŋkeke adrea gbe esime wain na be Fia Ahasuerus mu aha afã kple afã, eye wònɔ dzidzɔ kpɔm la, eyɔ ŋutsusubɔla adre siwo wotia be woanɔ esubɔm la va eɖokui gbɔe. Ame siawoe nye Mehuman, Bizta, Harbona, Bigta, Abagta, Zetar kple Karkas.
On the seventh day, when the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zathar and Carkas, his seven eunuch attendants
11 Fia la ɖe gbe na wo be woakplɔ Fianyɔnu Vasti vɛ, wòaɖɔ eƒe fiakuku, ale be ameawo katã nakpɔ eƒe tugbedzedze. Nyateƒe, Fianyɔnu Vasti dze tugbe ŋutɔŋutɔ.
to bring Queen Vashti before him with the royal diadem on her head, to show her beauty to the people and the officials, for she was very beautiful.
12 Ke esi dɔlawo gblɔ nɛ be fia la be wòava la, egbe meyi o. Fia la do dɔmedzoe ŋutɔ.
But Queen Vashti refused to come as the king commanded through the eunuchs. Then the king became very angry and his fury burned within him.
13 Ke asi wònye woƒe kɔnu be fia la naxɔ aɖaŋu le se kple afiatsotso ƒe nyawo me le ame siwo nya se nyuie gbɔ la, eƒo nu kple nunyala siwo se ɣeyiɣiawo gɔme nyuie.
The king turned to the wise men who knew the precedents, for it was his custom to confer with those wise in law.
14 Fiaŋume siwo fia la ƒo nu kplii la woe nye, Karsena, Setar, Admata, Tarsis, Meres, Marsena kple Memukan. Ame adre siawoe nye Persia kple Media bubumewo, wonye ame siwo tena ɖe fia la ŋu kpokploe, eye wonye ame siwo si ɖoƒe kɔkɔtɔwo kekeake le le fiaɖuƒe la me.
Those next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memucan, seven officials of Persia and Media who had access to the king and were highest in the kingdom.
15 Fia la bia wo be, “Le sea nu ɖe, nu ka wòle be woawɔ Fianyɔnu Vasti? Mewɔ ɖe gbe si Fia Ahasuerus ɖo ɖee to ŋutsu tatawo dzi la dzi o.”
‘Queen Vashti’, the king said, ‘has failed to obey my royal command – the command of King Ahasuerus conveyed through the eunuchs! What does the law say should be done to her?’
16 Memukan ƒo nu ɖe bubumeawo nu gblɔ be, “Fianyɔnu Vasti da vo, menye ɖe fia la ɖeɖe ko ŋu o, ke boŋ ɖe fiaŋume ɖe sia ɖe kple ame sia ame si le Fia Ahasuerus ƒe fiaɖuƒea me la ŋu.
Memucan replied before the king and the officials, ‘Queen Vashti has done wrong not only to the king but also to all the officials and to all the peoples in all of the king’s provinces.
17 Ne Persia kple Media nyɔnu ɖe sia ɖe se nu si Fianyɔnu Vasti wɔ ɖe fia la ŋu la, woade asi aglãdzedze me ɖe wo srɔ̃wo ŋu, eye wòagblɔ be Fia Ahasuerus ɖe gbe be woakplɔ Fianyɔnu Vasti va ye ŋkume, gake egbe vava.
The refusal of the queen will be reported to all the women with the result that it will make them despise their husbands. They will say, “King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought in before him, but she did not come!”
18 Hafi zã nado la, mí, wò aɖaŋuɖolawo katã srɔ̃wo ase nu si fiasrɔ̃ la wɔ, eye woade asi nuƒoƒo me na mí bubumewo, wo srɔ̃wo hã nenema tututu, ekema vlodoame kple dɔmedzoe koe anɔ wò fiaɖuƒe blibo la me. Nuwuwu manɔ anyi na amemabumabu kple tɔtɔ sia o,
This very day the ladies of Persia and Media who have heard of the refusal of the queen will tell it to all the king’s officials, and there will be contempt and strife!
19 eya ta míele edom ɖa be, ne fia la lɔ̃ la, ekema nàde se tɔxɛ aɖe na Mediatɔwo kple Persiatɔwo, se si womate ŋu atrɔ gbeɖegbeɖe o la, be Fianyɔnu Vasti magado ɖe Fia Ahasuerus ŋkume gbeɖegbeɖe o, eye nàtia fianyɔnu bubu si nyo wu Vasti.
If it seems best to the king, let him send out a royal edict. Let it be written among the laws of Persia and Media, never to be repealed, that Vashti may never again come before King Ahasuerus. Let the king give her place as queen to another who is more worthy than she.
20 Ne wode se sia le wò fiaɖuƒe gã la me la, nyɔnuwo ade bubu wo srɔ̃ŋutsuwo ŋu tso tsitsiawo dzi va se ɖe ɖeviawo dzi.”
When the king’s decree which he makes is heard throughout his kingdom – great as it is – the wives of all classes will give honour to their husbands.’
21 Fia la kple eƒe aɖaŋuɖolawo kpɔ ŋudzedze le Memukan ƒe aɖaŋuɖoɖo la ŋu, ale fia la wɔ ɖe Memukan ƒe susu la dzi.
The proposal pleased the king and the officials, and the king did as Memucan advised.
22 Woɖo agbalẽwo ɖe nuto ɖe sia ɖe me le fiaɖuƒe la me le gbegbɔgblɔ ɖe sia ɖe me, eye wote gbe ɖe edzi le gbegbɔgblɔ ɖe sia ɖe me be ŋutsu ɖe sia ɖe naɖu eƒe aƒe dzi, eye wòana ame sia ame nade bubu eŋu abe aƒea ƒe tatɔ ene.
He sent letters to all the provinces, to every province in its own system of writing and to every people in their language, that every man should be master in his own house!

< Ester 1 >