1 Now it came to pass in the days{H3117} of Ahasuerus{H325},(this is Ahasuerus{H325} which reigned{H4427}{(H8802)}, from India{H1912} even unto Ethiopia{H3568}, over an hundred{H3967} and seven{H7651} and twenty{H6242} provinces{H4082}:)

2 That in those days{H3117}, when the king{H4428} Ahasuerus{H325} sat{H3427}{(H8800)} on the throne{H3678} of his kingdom{H4438}, which was in Shushan{H7800} the palace{H1002},

3 In the third{H7969} year{H8141} of his reign{H4427}{(H8800)}, he made{H6213}{(H8804)} 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:

4 When he shewed{H7200}{(H8687)} the riches{H6239} of his glorious{H3519} kingdom{H4438} and the honour{H3366} of his excellent{H8597} majesty{H1420} many{H7227} days{H3117}, even an hundred{H3967} and fourscore{H8084} days{H3117}.

5 And when these days{H3117} were expired{H4390}{(H8800)}, the king{H4428} made{H6213}{(H8804)} a feast{H4960} unto all the people{H5971} that were present{H4672}{(H8737)} in Shushan{H7800} the palace{H1002}, both unto great{H1419} and small{H6996}, seven{H7651} days{H3117}, in the court{H2691} of the garden{H1594} of the king's{H4428} palace{H1055};

6 Where were white{H2353}, green{H3768}, and blue{H8504}, hangings, fastened{H270}{(H8803)} with cords{H2256} of fine linen{H948} and purple{H713} to silver{H3701} rings{H1550} and pillars{H5982} of marble{H8336}: the beds{H4296} were of gold{H2091} and silver{H3701}, upon a pavement{H7531} of red{H923}, and blue{H8504}, and white{H1858}, and black{H5508}, marble{H8336}.

7 And they gave them drink{H8248}{(H8687)} in vessels{H3627} of gold{H2091},(the vessels{H3627} being diverse{H8138}{(H8802)} one from another{H3627},) and royal{H4438} wine{H3196} in abundance{H7227}, according to the state{H3027} of the king{H4428}.

8 And the drinking{H8360} was according to the law{H1881}; none did compel{H597}{(H8802)}: for so the king{H4428} had appointed{H3245}{(H8765)} to all the officers{H7227} of his house{H1004}, that they should do{H6213}{(H8800)} according to every man's{H376} pleasure{H7522}.

9 Also Vashti{H2060} the queen{H4436} made{H6213}{(H8804)} a feast{H4960} for the women{H802} in the royal{H4438} house{H1004} which belonged to king{H4428} Ahasuerus{H325}.

10 On the seventh{H7637} day{H3117}, when the heart{H3820} of the king{H4428} was merry{H2896} with wine{H3196}, he commanded{H559}{(H8804)} Mehuman{H4104}, Biztha{H968}, Harbona{H2726}, Bigtha{H903}, and Abagtha{H5}, Zethar{H2242}, and Carcas{H3752}, the seven{H7651} chamberlains{H5631} that served{H8334}{(H8764)} in the presence{H6440} of Ahasuerus{H325} the king{H4428},

11 To bring{H935}{(H8687)} Vashti{H2060} the queen{H4436} before{H6440} the king{H4428} with the crown{H3804} royal{H4438}, to shew{H7200}{(H8687)} the people{H5971} and the princes{H8269} her beauty{H3308}: for she was fair{H2896} to look on{H4758}.

12 But the queen{H4436} Vashti{H2060} refused{H3985}{(H8762)} to come{H935}{(H8800)} at the king's{H4428} commandment{H1697} by{H3027} his chamberlains{H5631}: therefore was the king{H4428} very{H3966} wroth{H7107}{(H8799)}, and his anger{H2534} burned{H1197}{(H8804)} in him.

13 Then the king{H4428} said{H559}{(H8799)} to the wise men{H2450}, which knew{H3045}{(H8802)} the times{H6256},(for so was the king's{H4428} manner{H1697} toward{H6440} all that knew{H3045}{(H8802)} law{H1881} and judgment{H1779}:

14 And the next{H7138} unto him was 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}, which saw{H7200}{(H8802)} the king's{H4428} face{H6440}, and which sat{H3427}{(H8802)} the first{H7223} in the kingdom{H4438};)

15 What shall we do{H6213}{(H8800)} unto the queen{H4436} Vashti{H2060} according to law{H1881}, because she hath not performed{H6213}{(H8804)} the commandment{H3982} of the king{H4428} Ahasuerus{H325} by{H3027} the chamberlains{H5631}?

16 And Memucan{H4462} answered{H559}{(H8799)} before{H6440} the king{H4428} and the princes{H8269}, Vashti{H2060} the queen{H4436} hath not done wrong{H5753}{(H8804)} to the king{H4428} only, but also to all the princes{H8269}, and to all the people{H5971} that are in all the provinces{H4082} of the king{H4428} Ahasuerus{H325}.

17 For this deed{H1697} of the queen{H4436} shall come abroad{H3318}{(H8799)} unto all women{H802}, so that they shall despise{H959}{(H8687)} their husbands{H1167} in their eyes{H5869}, when it shall be reported{H559}{(H8800)}, The king{H4428} Ahasuerus{H325} commanded{H559}{(H8804)} Vashti{H2060} the queen{H4436} to be brought in{H935}{(H8687)} before{H6440} him, but she came{H935}{(H8804)} not.

18 Likewise shall the ladies{H8282} of Persia{H6539} and Media{H4074} say{H559}{(H8799)} this day{H3117} unto all the king's{H4428} princes{H8269}, which have heard{H8085}{(H8804)} of the deed{H1697} of the queen{H4436}. Thus shall there arise too much{H1767} contempt{H963} and wrath{H7110}.

19 If it please{H2895}{(H8804)} the king{H4428}, let there go{H3318}{(H8799)} a royal{H4438} commandment{H1697} from him{H6440}, and let it be written{H3789}{(H8735)} among the laws{H1881} of the Persians{H6539} and the Medes{H4074}, that it be not altered{H5674}{(H8799)}, That Vashti{H2060} come{H935}{(H8799)} no more before{H6440} king{H4428} Ahasuerus{H325}; and let the king{H4428} give{H5414}{(H8799)} her royal estate{H4438} unto another{H7468} that is better{H2896} than she.

20 And when the king's{H4428} decree{H6599} which he shall make{H6213}{(H8799)} shall be published{H8085}{(H8738)} throughout all his empire{H4438},(for it is great{H7227},) all the wives{H802} shall give{H5414}{(H8799)} to their husbands{H1167} honour{H3366}, both to great{H1419} and small{H6996}.

21 And the saying{H1697} pleased{H3190}{(H8799)}{H5869} the king{H4428} and the princes{H8269}; and the king{H4428} did{H6213}{(H8799)} according to the word{H1697} of Memucan{H4462}:

22 For he sent{H7971}{(H8799)} 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}{(H8802)} in his own house{H1004}, and that it should be published{H1696}{(H8764)} according to the language{H3956} of every people{H5971}.