Книга Есфири 1
1 И бысть по словесех сих во днех Артаксеркса: сей Артаксеркс от Индии обладаше сто двадесять седмию странами (даже до Ефиопии):
Now in the days of Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus who reigned from India even to Ethiopia, over one hundred twenty-seven provinces),
2 во дни же тыя, егда седе на престоле царь Артаксеркс в Сусех граде,
in those days, when the King Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Susa the palace,
3 в третие лето царства своего, сотвори пир другом и прочым языком, и Персским и Мидским славным, и началным сатрапом,
in the third year of his reign, he made a feast for all his princes and his servants; the army of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces being before him.
4 и по сих, егда показа им богатство царства своего и славу веселия своего, во сто осмьдесят дний.
He displayed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honor of his excellent majesty many days, even one hundred eighty days.
5 И егда исполнишася дние пира, сотвори царь пиршество языком обретшымся во граде (Сусех) на дний шесть во дворе дому царева,
When these days were fulfilled, the king made a seven day feast for all the people who were present in Susa the palace, both great and small, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace.
6 украшеннем виссонными и зелеиыми завесами, простертыми на ужах виссонных и червленичных, на колцах златых и сребряных, на столпех мраморных и каменных:
There were hangings of white and blue material, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and marble pillars. The couches were of gold and silver, on a pavement of red, white, yellow, and black marble.
7 ложа злата и сребряна, на помосте камене смарагдова, и пиннинска и паринска мрамора, и плащаницы пестротами различными разцвечены, окрест шипцы разсеяни:
They gave them drinks in golden vessels of various kinds, including royal wine in abundance, according to the bounty of the king.
8 сосуди злати и сребряни, и чаша анфракса (камене) предложенная, ценою талант тридесять тысящ: вино много и сладко, еже сам царь пияше: питие же сие не по уставленному закону бысть, тако бо восхоте царь и заповеда икономом сотворити волю свою и мужей.
In accordance with the law, the drinking was not compulsory; for so the king had instructed all the officials of his house, that they should do according to every man’s pleasure.
9 И Астинь царица сотвори пир женам в дому цареве, идеже царь Артаксеркс.
Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to King Ahasuerus.
10 В день же седмый развеселився царь, рече Аману и Вазану, и Фарре и Варазу, и Зафолфану и Аватазу и Фараву, седмим евнухом, иже служаху пред царем Артаксерксом,
On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcass, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,
11 привести (Астинь) царицу пред него, еже воцарити ю и возложити на ню венец царский и показати ю всем началствующым и языком красоту ея, зане прекрасна бе.
to bring Vashti the queen before the king wearing the royal crown, to show the people and the princes her beauty; for she was beautiful.
12 И не послуша его Астинь царица приити со евнухи.
But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by the eunuchs. Therefore the king was very angry, and his anger burned in him.
13 И опечалися царь, и разгневася, и рече ближним своим: сице рече Астинь: сотворите убо о сем закон и суд.
Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times (for it was the king’s custom to consult those who knew law and judgment;
14 И приступиша к нему Аркесей и Сарсофей и Малисеар, началницы Персстии и Мидстии, иже близ царя, первии седящии при цари,
and next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king’s face, and sat first in the kingdom),
15 и возвестиша ему по законом, како подобает сотворити царице Астини, яко не сотвори повеленных от царя чрез евнухи.
“What shall we do to Queen Vashti according to law, because she has not done the bidding of the King Ahasuerus by the eunuchs?”
16 И рече Мухей ко царю и к боляром: не царя единаго обиде Астинь царица, но и вся князи и началники царевы,
Memucan answered before the king and the princes, “Vashti the queen has not done wrong to just the king, but also to all the princes, and to all the people who are in all the provinces of the King Ahasuerus.
17 ибо поведа им словеса царицы, и како противорече царю:
For this deed of the queen will become known to all women, causing them to show contempt for their husbands when it is reported, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she didn’t come.’
18 якоже убо противно рече царю Артаксерксу, сице и днесь госпожи жены прочыя князей Персских и Мидских, услышавшя царю реченная от нея, дерзнут такожде безчествовати мужеи своих:
Today, the princesses of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s deed will tell all the king’s princes. This will cause much contempt and wrath.
19 аще убо угодно царю, да повелит царским повелением, и да напишется по законом Мидским и Персским, и инако да не будет, ниже да внидет ктому царица к нему, и царство ея да предаст царь жене лучшей ея:
“If it pleases the king, let a royal commandment go from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it cannot be altered, that Vashti may never again come before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate to another who is better than she.
20 и да будет услышан закон, иже от царя, егоже сотворит во царствии своем, и сице вся жены возложат честь на мужы своя от богата даже до убога.
When the king’s decree which he shall make is published throughout all his kingdom (for it is great), all the wives will give their husbands honor, both great and small.”
21 И угодно бысть слово пред царем и началники, и сотвори царь, якоже рече ему Мухей,
This advice pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan:
22 и посла царь книги во все царство по странам по языку их, да будет страх им в жилищих их.
for he sent letters into all the king’s provinces, into every province according to its writing, and to every people in their language, that every man should rule his own house, speaking in the language of his own people.
