Esther 1

1It happened in the days of Ahasuerus—this Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over one hundred twenty-seven provinces.

2In those days, when King Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in the palace of Shushan.

3In the third year of his reign, he hosted a banquet for all his officials and servants; the forces of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, stood before him.

4When he displayed the wealth and glory of his kingdom and the honor and beauty of his majesty for many days, one hundred and eighty days.

5When these days were completed, the king held a seven-day banquet for all the people present in Susa the citadel, from great to small, in the court of the garden of the king's palace.

6Drapes of white, green, and blue, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and marble pillars, and couches of gold and silver upon a pavement of red, blue, white, and black marble.

7They served drinks in vessels of gold and vessels of different kinds, with royal wine in great abundance, according to the king's generosity.

8The drinking was according to the decree with no compulsion, for the king had established it thus for all the officials of his house, to do according to each man's desire.

9Queen Vashti also held a banquet for the women in the royal house of King Ahasuerus.

10On the seventh day, when wine had gladdened the king's heart, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven eunuchs who served before King Ahasuerus.

11To bring Queen Vashti before the king wearing the royal crown, to display her beauty to the people and officials, because she was beautiful in appearance.

12Queen Vashti refused to come as the king directed through the eunuchs. The king became greatly enraged, and his anger burned within him.

13The king spoke to the wise men who understood the times, for so was the king's procedure before all who knew law and judgment.

14and closest to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media who beheld the king's face and sat first in the kingdom.

15According to law, what is to be done to Queen Vashti, because she did not carry out the command of King Ahasuerus delivered by the eunuchs?

16Memucan replied before the king and the princes: "Vashti the queen has not offended the king alone, but all the princes too, and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus."

17For the queen's deed will reach all women so they despise their husbands in their eyes when they say, “The king Ahasuerus said to bring Vashti the queen before him, but she did not come.”

18Today the princesses of Persia and Media who have heard the queen's deed will say to all the king's princes, and so there will be contempt and wrath.

19If it seems good to the king, let a royal decree go forth from before him, and let it be written among the laws of Persia and Media, that it not be altered, that Vashti not come before King Ahasuerus, and let the king give her royal position to another who is better than her.

20When the king's decree that he makes is heard throughout all his kingdom—for it is great—all the women will give honor to their husbands, from great to small.

21The matter was good in the eyes of the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan.

22He sent letters to all the king's provinces, to every province in its script and to every people in its language, so every man would rule his own house, speaking his people's language.