Ɛster 1
1 Saa asɛm yi sii ɔhene Ahasweros a ɔdii amantam ɔha aduonu nson so, firi India kɔsi Etiopia no ɛberɛ so.
In the days of Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus who reigned from India as far as Cush, over 127 provinces),
2 Saa ɛberɛ no na ɔte ahennwa so wɔ Susa aban mu de di nʼahemman no so.
in those days King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in the fortress of Susa.
3 Nʼahennie mfeɛ mmiɛnsa so no, ɔtoo ɛpono kɛseɛ maa nʼahenemma ne ne mpanimfoɔ. Ɔtoo nsa frɛɛ asraafoɔ mpanimfoɔ a wɔwɔ Media ne Persia nyinaa ne atitire ne amantam mu mpanimfoɔ.
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.
4 Afahyɛ no dii abosome nsia, na ɔdaa nʼahemman mu sika pepe ne emu animuonyam adi.
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.
5 Yei nyinaa twaam no, ɔhene no too ɛpono sononko bi maa ahemfie hɔ asomfoɔ ne mpanimfoɔ nyinaa, ɛfiri ɔkɛseɛ so de kɔsi ɔketewa so. Ɛdii nnanson, na wɔyɛɛ no wɔ Susa ahemfie adihɔ turo mu.
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.
6 Wɔde ntoma fɛfɛ nahanaha fitaa ne tuntum a wɔanwono mu sensɛnee adihɔ hɔ. Na wɔde nhoma kɔkɔɔ akyekyere ahyɛ dwetɛ nkawa a ɛhyehyɛ abohemaa afadum mu. Sikakɔkɔɔ ne dwetɛ nkonnwa sisi abohemaa ne abohyɛn ne abobire ne aboɔdemmoɔ ahodoɔ nsesɛeɛ so.
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.
7 Wɔde nsakuruwa a wɔadi ho adwini ahodoɔ papa bi someeɛ, na adehyesa buu so hɔ, sɛdeɛ ɔhene hyɛeɛ no.
Drinks were served in golden cups. Each cup was unique and there was much royal wine that came because of the king's generosity.
8 Nhyehyɛeɛ a na ɛwɔ asanom no ho ara ne sɛ, ɛnsɛ sɛ wɔhyɛ obi ma ɔnom boro deɛ ɔbɛtumi so. Nanso, wɔn a wɔbɛtumi anom no deɛ, wɔnomee sɛdeɛ wɔpɛ, ɛfiri sɛ, na ɔhene no aka akyerɛ ne fiefoɔ no sɛ, obiara bɛtumi anom sɛdeɛ ɔpɛ.
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.
9 Ɔhemmaa Wasti too ɛpono maa ahemfie mmaa no saa ɛberɛ korɔ no ara mu.
Also, Queen Vashti gave a feast for the women in the royal palace of King Ahasuerus.
10 Afahyɛ no nnanson so a nsã afa ɔhene Ahasweros ani so kakra no, ɔka kyerɛɛ Mehuman, Bista, Harbona, Bigta, Abagta, Setar ne Karkas a wɔyɛ apiafoɔ baason a wɔhwɛ no no sɛ,
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),
11 wɔmfa ɔhemmaa Wasti a ɔhyɛ ahemmaa kyɛ no mmrɛ no. Na ɔpɛ sɛ mmarima nyinaa hwɛ nʼahoɔfɛ, ɛfiri sɛ, na ɔyɛ ɔbaa hoɔfɛfoɔ pa ara.
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.
12 Nanso, wɔde ɔhene ɔfrɛtumi nkra kɔmaa ɔhemmaa Wasti no, wamma. Yei maa ɔhene ani bereeɛ yie, maa abufuo hyɛɛ no ma.
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.
13 Ntɛm so, ɔbisaa nʼafotufoɔ a wɔnim Persia mmara ne nʼamanneɛ deɛ ɛsɛ sɛ ɔyɛ, ɛfiri sɛ, na ɔtaa bisa wɔn afotuo.
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).
14 Na afotufoɔ no ne Karsena, Setar, Admata, Tarsis, Meres, Marsena, Memukan, a wɔyɛ akunini baason a wɔfiri Persia ne Media. Na wɔyɛ ne nnamfo berɛboɔ a wɔkura dibea akɛseɛ wɔ ahemman no mu.
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.
15 Ɔhene no bisaa sɛ, “Ɛdeɛn na menyɛ ɔhemmaa Wasti? Asotweɛ bɛn na mmara no kyerɛ sɛ, wɔmfa mma ɔhemmaa a mesomaa me piafoɔ sɛ wɔnkɔfrɛ no mmra na wamma no?”
“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?”
16 Na Memukan buaa ɔhene no ne ahenemma no sɛ, “Ɛnyɛ ɔhene no nko na ɔhemmaa Wasti afom, na wafom ɔpanin biara ne ɔmanfoɔ a wɔwɔ wʼahemman no mu nyinaa.
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.
17 Sɛ mmaa a wɔwɔ ɔman yi mu te sɛ ɔhemmaa Wasti ankɔ ɔhene frɛ no a, wɔbɛfiri aseɛ atwiri wɔn kununom.
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.'
18 Ansa na adeɛ bɛkye no, yɛn yerenom, wo mpanimfoɔ yerenom nyinaa bɛte deɛ ɔhemmaa no yɛeɛ, na wɔahyɛ aseɛ akasa wɔn kununom wɔ kwan korɔ no ara so. Na ntwirie no ne abufuo no to rentwa da wɔ wʼahemman mu ha.
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.
19 “Enti, sɛ ɔhene bɛpene so a, yɛsusu sɛ, ɛbɛyɛ sɛ ɔhene bɛhyɛ mmara a wɔatwerɛ no Persiafoɔ ne Mediafoɔ mmara mu a wɔntumi nsakra mu. Ɛsɛ sɛ ɛhyɛ sɛ wɔmpam ɔhemmaa Wasti mfiri wʼani so, na wɔnsi ɔhemmaa foforɔ a ɔsom bo kyɛn no.
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.
20 Sɛ wɔde saa mmara yi to dwa, ma obiara te wɔ wʼahemman kɛseɛ yi mu a, mmaa awarefoɔ de obuo a ɛsɛ na ɛfata bɛma wɔn kununom.”
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.”
21 Ɔhene no ne nʼahenemma no faa no sɛ ɛyɛ adwene pa enti, wɔfaa Memukan afotuo no.
The king and his noblemen were pleased with this advice, and the king did as Memukan proposed.
22 Ɔtwerɛɛ nkrataa kɔɔ nʼahemman no mu afanan nyinaa. Ɔtwerɛɛ ɔmantam biara wɔ ne kasa mu, sɛ ɔbarima biara nni ne fie so.
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.
