Now it came to pass in the days{H3117} of Ahasuerus{H325} (this is Ahasuerus{H325} who reigned{H4427} from India{H1912} even unto Ethiopia,{H3568} over a hundred{H3967} and seven{H7651} and twenty{H6242} provinces),{H4082}

that in those days,{H3117} when the king{H4428} Ahasuerus{H325} sat{H3427} on the throne{H3678} of his kingdom,{H4438} which was in Shushan{H7800} the palace,{H1002}

in the third{H7969} year{H8141} of his reign,{H4427} he made{H6213} a feast{H4960} unto all his princes{H8269} and his servants;{H5650} the power{H2428} of Persia{H6539} and Media,{H4074} the nobles{H6579} and princes{H8269} of the provinces,{H4082} being before{H6440} him;

when he showed{H7200} the riches{H6239} of his glorious{H3519} kingdom{H4438} and the honor{H3366} of his excellent{H8597} majesty{H1420} many{H7227} days,{H3117} even a hundred{H3967} and fourscore{H8084} days.{H3117}

And when these days{H3117} were fulfilled,{H4390} the king{H4428} made{H6213} a feast{H4960} unto all the people{H5971} that were present{H4672} in Shushan{H7800} the palace,{H1002} both great{H1419} and small,{H6996} seven{H7651} days,{H3117} in the court{H2691} of the garden{H1594} of the king's{H4428} palace.{H1055}

[ There were hangings of] white{H2353} [cloth], [of] green,{H3768} and [of] blue,{H8504} fastened{H270} with cords{H2256} of fine linen{H948} and purple{H713} to silver{H3701} rings{H1550} and pillars{H5982} of marble:{H8336} the couches{H4296} were of gold{H2091} and silver,{H3701} upon a pavement{H7531} of red,{H923} and white,{H1858} and yellow,{H8504} and black{H5508} marble.{H8336}

And they gave them drink{H8248} in vessels{H3627} of gold{H2091} (the vessels{H3627} being diverse{H8138} one from another),{H3627} and royal{H4438} wine{H3196} in abundance,{H7227} according to the bounty{H3027} of the king.{H4428}

And the drinking{H8360} was according to the law;{H1881} none could compel:{H597} for so the king{H4428} had appointed{H3245} to all the officers{H7227} of his house,{H1004} that they should do{H6213} according to every man's{H376} pleasure.{H7522}

Also Vashti{H2060} the queen{H4436} made{H6213} a feast{H4960} for the women{H802} in the royal{H4438} house{H1004} which belonged to king{H4428} Ahasuerus.{H325}

On the seventh{H7637} day,{H3117} when the heart{H3820} of the king{H4428} was merry{H2896} with wine,{H3196} he commanded{H559} Mehuman,{H4104} Biztha,{H968} Harbona,{H2726} Bigtha,{H903} and Abagtha,{H5} Zethar,{H2242} and Carcas,{H3752} the seven{H7651} chamberlains{H5631} that ministered{H8334} in the presence{H6440} of Ahasuerus{H325} the king,{H4428}

to bring{H935} Vashti{H2060} the queen{H4436} before{H6440} the king{H4428} with the crown{H3804} royal,{H4438} to show{H7200} the peoples{H5971} and the princes{H8269} her beauty;{H3308} for she was fair{H2896} to look on.{H4758}

But the queen{H4436} Vashti{H2060} refused{H3985} to come{H935} at the king's{H4428} commandment{H1697} by{H3027} the chamberlains:{H5631} therefore was the king{H4428} very{H3966} wroth,{H7107} and his anger{H2534} burned{H1197} in him.

Then the king{H4428} said{H559} to the wise men,{H2450} who knew{H3045} the times,{H6256} (for so was the king's{H4428} manner{H1697} toward{H6440} all that knew{H3045} law{H1881} and judgment;{H1779}

and the next{H7138} unto him were Carshena,{H3771} Shethar,{H8369} Admatha,{H133} Tarshish,{H8659} Meres,{H4825} Marsena,{H4826} and Memucan,{H4462} the seven{H7651} princes{H8269} of Persia{H6539} and Media,{H4074} who saw{H7200} the king's{H4428} face,{H6440} and sat{H3427} first{H7223} in the kingdom),{H4438}

What shall we do{H6213} unto the queen{H4436} Vashti{H2060} according to law,{H1881} because she hath not done{H6213} the bidding{H3982} of the king{H4428} Ahasuerus{H325} by{H3027} the chamberlains?{H5631}

And Memucan{H4462} answered{H559} before{H6440} the king{H4428} and the princes,{H8269} Vashti{H2060} the queen{H4436} hath not done wrong{H5753} to the king{H4428} only, but also to all the princes,{H8269} and to all the peoples{H5971} that are in all the provinces{H4082} of the king{H4428} Ahasuerus.{H325}

For this deed{H1697} of the queen{H4436} will come abroad{H3318} unto all women,{H802} to make their husbands{H1167} contemptible{H959} in their eyes,{H5869} when it shall be reported,{H559} The king{H4428} Ahasuerus{H325} commanded{H559} Vashti{H2060} the queen{H4436} to be brought in{H935} before{H6440} him, but she came{H935} not.

And this day{H3117} will the princesses{H8282} of Persia{H6539} and Media{H4074} who have heard{H8085} of the deed{H1697} of the queen{H4436} say{H559} [the like] unto all the king's{H4428} princes.{H8269} So [will there arise] much{H1767} contempt{H963} and wrath.{H7110}

If it please{H2895} the king,{H4428} let there go{H3318} forth a royal{H4438} commandment{H1697} from him,{H6440} and let it be written{H3789} among the laws{H1881} of the Persians{H6539} and the Medes,{H4074} that it be not altered,{H5674} that Vashti{H2060} come{H935} no more before{H6440} king{H4428} Ahasuerus;{H325} and let the king{H4428} give{H5414} her royal estate{H4438} unto another{H7468} that is better{H2896} than she.

And when the king's{H4428} decree{H6599} which he shall make{H6213} shall be published{H8085} throughout all his kingdom{H4438} (for it is great),{H7227} all the wives{H802} will give{H5414} to their husbands{H1167} honor,{H3366} both to great{H1419} and small.{H6996}

And the saying{H1697} pleased{H3190} the king{H4428} and the princes;{H8269} and the king{H4428} did{H6213} according to the word{H1697} of Memucan:{H4462}

for he sent{H7971} letters{H5612} into all the king's{H4428} provinces,{H4082} into every province{H4082} according to the writing{H3791} thereof, and to every people{H5971} after their language,{H3956} that every man{H376} should bear rule{H8323} in his own house,{H1004} and should speak{H1696} according to the language{H3956} of his people.{H5971}