Now it
came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is
Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto
Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty
provinces:)
02 That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus
sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in
Shushan the palace,
03 In the third year of his reign, he made 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:
04 When he shewed the riches of his glorious
kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty
many days, even an hundred and fourscore days.
05 And when these days were expired, the king
made a feast unto all the people that were
present in Shushan the palace, both unto great
and small, seven days, in the court of the garden
of the king's palace;
06 Where were white, green, and blue, hangings,
fastened 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.
07 And they gave them drink in vessels of gold,
(the vessels being diverse one from another,) and
royal wine in abundance, according to the state
of the king.
08 And the drinking was according to the law;
none did compel: for so the king had appointed to
all the officers of his house, that they should
do according to every man's pleasure.
09 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the
women in the royal house which belonged to king
Ahasuerus.
10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king
was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman,
Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and
Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the
presence of Ahasuerus the king,
11 To bring Vashti the queen before the king with
the crown royal, to shew the people and the
princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on.
12 But the queen Vashti refused to come at the
king's commandment by his chamberlains: therefore
was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in
him.
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13 Then the king said to the wise men, which knew
the times, (for so was the king's manner toward
all that knew law and judgment:
14 And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar,
Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan,
the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw
the king's face, and which sat the first in the
kingdom;)
15 What shall we do unto the queen Vashti
according to law, because she hath not performed
the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the
chamberlains?
16 And Memucan answered before the king and the
princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong 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.
17 For this deed of the queen shall come abroad
unto all women, so that they shall despise their
husbands in their eyes, when it shall be
reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the
queen to be brought in before him, but she came
not.
18 Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media
say this day unto all the king's princes, which
have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall
there arise too much contempt and wrath.
19 If it please the king, let there go a royal
commandment from him, and let it be written among
the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it
be not altered, That Vashti come no more before
king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal
estate unto another that is better than she.
20 And when the king's decree which he shall make
shall be published throughout all his empire,
(for it is great,) all the wives shall give to
their husbands honour, both to great and small.
21 And the saying pleased the king and the
princes; and the king did according to the word
of Memucan:
22 For he sent letters into all the king's
provinces, into every province according to the
writing thereof, and to every people after their
language, that every man should bear rule in his
own house, and that it should be published
according to the language of every people.
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