Chapter 1

Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this [is] Ahasuerus which reigned,⁶ from India even unto Ethiopia, [over] an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)

[That] in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat² on the throne of his kingdom, which [was] in Shushan the palace,

In the third year of his reign,² he made¹ a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, [being] before him:

When he shewed⁵³ the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, [even] an hundred and fourscore days.

And when these days were expired,² the king made¹ a feast unto all the people that were present¹² in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace;

[Where were] white, green, and blue, [hangings], fastened⁷ with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds [were of] gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black, marble.

And they gave [them] drink⁵³ in vessels of gold, (the vessels being diverse⁶ one from another,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the state of the king.

And the drinking [was] according to the law; none did compel:⁶ for so the king had appointed¹⁴ to all the officers of his house, that they should do² according to every man's ³⁷⁶ pleasure.

Also Vashti the queen made¹ a feast for the women [in] the royal house which [belonged] to king Ahasuerus.

On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded¹ Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served¹⁸ in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,

To bring⁵³ Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew⁵³ the people and the princes her beauty: for she [was] fair to look on.

But the queen Vashti refused¹⁷ to come² at the king's commandment by [his] chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth,⁴ and his anger burned¹ in him.

Then the king said⁴ to the wise men, which knew⁶ the times, (for so [was] the king's manner toward all that knew⁶ law and judgment:

And the next unto him [was] Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, [and] Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw⁶ the king's face, [and] which sat⁶ the first in the kingdom;)

What shall we do² unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not performed¹ the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?

And Memucan answered⁴ before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong¹ to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that [are] in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.

For [this] deed of the queen shall come abroad⁴ unto all women, so that they shall despise⁵³ their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported,² The king Ahasuerus commanded¹ Vashti the queen to be brought in⁵³ before him, but she came¹ not.

[Likewise] shall the ladies of Persia and Media say⁴ this day unto all the king's princes, which have heard¹ of the deed of the queen. Thus [shall there arise] too much contempt and wrath.

If it please¹ the king, let there go⁴ a royal commandment from him, and let it be written¹¹ among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered,⁴ That Vashti come⁴ no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give⁴ her royal estate unto another that is better than she.

And when the king's decree which he shall make⁴ shall be published⁸ throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give⁴ to their husbands honour, both to great and small.

And the saying pleased^{4 5869} the king and the princes; and the king did⁴ according to the word of Memucan:

For he sent⁴ letters into all the king's provinces, into every province ⁴⁰⁸² according to the writing thereof, and to every people ⁵⁹⁷¹ after their language, that every man should bear rule⁶ in his own house, and that [it] should be published¹⁸ according to the language of every people.