Esther, Chapter 1

1. Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus who reigned, from India even to Ethiopia, over a hundred and twenty seven provinces:)    2. That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,    3. In the third year of his reign, he made a feast for all his princes and his servants; the might of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him:    4. When he displayed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honor of his excellent majesty many days, even a hundred and eighty days.    5. And when these days were expired, the king made a feast for all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both for great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace;    6. Where were white, green, and blue, hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the couches were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black, marble.    7. And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being different one from another,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the bounty of the king.    8. And the drinking was according to the law; no one was forced: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.    9. 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 officers that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,    11. To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the royal crown, to show 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 officers: therefore was the king very angry, and his anger burned in him.    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 those next to him were 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 to the queen Vashti according to law, because she has not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the officers?    16. And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen has 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 to 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 did not come.    18. Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media which have heard of the deed of the queen say this day to all the king's princes. Thus shall there arise more than enough contempt and strife.    19. If it pleases 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 to another that is better than she.    20. And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be announced throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honor, 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 according to their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and that it should be announced according to the language of every people.