1 It happened during the days of Ahasuerus, that Ahasuerus who ruled over 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia.

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:)

2 At that time, King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in the citadel of Susa.

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 held a banquet for all his officials and servants. The army of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the officials of the provinces were present before him.

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:

4 He displayed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the splendor of his majestic greatness for many days—one hundred and eighty days in total.

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

5 When these days were over, the king held a seven-day feast for all the people who were present in the citadel of Susa, from the greatest to the least, in the courtyard of the garden of the king's palace.

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;

6 The garden was decorated with fine white and blue linen fastened with cords of linen and purple material to silver rods on marble pillars. There were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of alabaster, marble, mother-of-pearl, and other costly stones.

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.

7 Drinks were served in golden goblets of various designs, and the royal wine flowed in abundance, as befits the king's generosity.

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.

8 The drinking was done according to royal decree with no restrictions, for the king had ordered all the stewards of his household to allow each person to drink as they desired.

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.

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

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 king was in high spirits from the wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus,

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 Queen Vashti before the king wearing her royal crown, in order to display her beauty to the people and officials, for she was very beautiful.

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 Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command delivered by the eunuchs. The king became furious, and his anger burned within him.

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.

13 Then the king consulted the wise men who understood the times, for it was the king's custom to speak before all who understood law and judgment.

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 The closest advisers to the king were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who had access to the king's presence and held the highest positions in the kingdom.

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 The king asked, 'According to the law, what is to be done with Queen Vashti for not obeying the command of King Ahasuerus conveyed through the eunuchs?'

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 Memucan responded in the presence of the king and the officials, 'Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king but also all the officials and all the peoples in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.'

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 the queen's conduct will become known to all the women, causing them to look down on their husbands by saying, 'King Ahasuerus ordered Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she did not come.'

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 Today the princesses of Persia and Media who have heard about the queen's actions will say the same to all the king's officials, leading to much contempt and anger.

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 pleases the king, let a royal decree be issued, written in the laws of Persia and Media which cannot be repealed, that Vashti is never again to enter the presence of King Ahasuerus. Also, let the king give her royal position to someone who is better than she.

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 When the king's edict is proclaimed throughout his vast kingdom, all the women will give respect to their husbands, from the least to the greatest.

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 The proposal pleased the king and the officials, and the king did as Memucan suggested.

And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan:

22 He sent letters to all the provinces of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language, announcing that every man should be ruler over his household and speak in his own language.

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.