It was in the days of ^aAhasuerus (¹Xerxes) who reigned ^bfrom India to Ethiopia (Cush) over ^c127 provinces, 2 in those days when King Ahasuerus ^asat on his royal throne which was at the citadel in ^1bSusa the capital of the Persian Empire, 3 in the third year of his reign ^ahe held a banquet for all his officials and his attendants. The army officers of Persia and Media, the nobles and the officials of the provinces were there in his presence. 4 And he displayed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the splendor of his great majesty for many days, 180 days in all.

5 When these days were completed, the king held a banquet for all the people who were present at the citadel in Susa the capital, from the greatest in importance to the least, a seven-day feast in the courtyard of ^athe garden of the king’s palace. 6 There were curtains (draperies) of fine white and violet linen fastened with cords of fine purple linen to silver rings and marble columns. The ^acouches of gold and silver rested on a mosaic floor of ¹porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and precious colored stones. 7 Drinks were served in various kinds of golden goblets, and the royal wine was plentiful, ^ain accordance with the generosity of the king. 8 The drinking was carried on in accordance with the law; no one was compelled to drink, for the king had directed each official of his household to comply with each guest’s wishes. 9 Queen Vashti also held a separate banquet for the women in the palace of King Ahasuerus.

10 On the seventh day, when the king’s heart was ^ajoyful with wine (in high spirits) , he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas, the seven ¹eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus as his attendants, 11 to bring Queen Vashti before the king, ¹wearing her royal ^acrown (high turban) , to display her beauty before the people and the officials, for she was lovely to see. 12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command, which was delivered to her by the eunuchs. So the king became extremely angry and burned with rage.

13 Then the king spoke to ^athe wise men ^bwho understood the times asking for their advice—for it was the custom of the king to speak before all those who were familiar with law and legal matters— 14 and who were close to him as advisors: Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven officials of Persia and Media ^awho had access to the king and were ranked highest in the kingdom. 15 He said, “According to the law, what is to be done with Queen Vashti because she did not obey the command of King Ahasuerus which was conveyed by the eunuchs?” 16 And Memucan answered in the presence of the king and the officials, “Vashti the queen has not only wronged the king but also all the officials (royal representatives) and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. 17 For the queen’s conduct will become known to all women, causing them to look on their husbands with contempt (disrespect) , since they will say, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she did not come.’ 18 This very day the ladies of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s refusal will speak in the same way to all the king’s officials, and there will be plenty of contempt and anger. 19 If it pleases the king, let a royal command be issued by him and let it be written in the laws of the Persians and Medes so ^athat it cannot be repealed or modified, that Vashti is ¹no longer to come before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal position to another who is better and more worthy than she. 20 So when the king’s great decree is proclaimed throughout his extensive kingdom, ^aall women will give honor to their husbands, from the great to the insignificant.”

21 This statement (advice) pleased the king and the officials, and the king did what Memucan proposed. 22 So he sent letters to all the royal provinces, ^ato each province in its own script and to each people in their own language, saying that every man should ^bbe the master and rule in his own home and that ¹he should speak in the household in the language of his own people.

Now it happened in the days of ^aAhasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned ^bfrom India to ¹Cush over ^c127 provinces, 2 in those days as King Ahasuerus ^asat on his royal throne which was at the citadel in ^bSusa, 3 in the third year of his reign ^ahe held a banquet for all his officials and attendants, the army officers of Persia and Media, the nobles and the officials of his provinces, in his presence. 4 ¹At that time he displayed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor of his great majesty for many days, 180 days.

5 When these days were finished, the king held a banquet lasting seven days for all the people who were present at the citadel in Susa, from the greatest to the least, in the courtyard of ^athe garden of the king’s palace. 6 There were curtains of fine white and violet linen held by cords of fine purple linen on silver rings and marble columns, and ^acouches of gold and silver on a mosaic floor of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and mineral stones. 7 Drinks were served in golden vessels of various kinds, and the royal wine was plentiful ^ain proportion to the king’s ¹bounty. 8 But the drinking was done according to the royal law; there was no compulsion, for so the king had given orders to each official of his household, that he was to do as each person pleased. 9 Queen Vashti also held a banquet for the women in the ¹palace which belonged to King Ahasuerus.

10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was ^acheerful with wine, he ordered Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus, 11 to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her royal ^aturban in order to display her beauty to the people and the officials, for she was beautiful. 12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s order ¹delivered by the eunuchs. So the king became very angry, and his wrath burned within him.

13 Then the king said to ^athe wise men ^bwho understood the times—for it was the custom of the king to speak this way before all who knew Persian law and justice 14 and were close to him, namely, Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven officials of Persia and Media ^awho ¹had access to the king’s presence and sat in the first place in the kingdom— 15 “According to law, what is to be done with Queen Vashti, since she did not ¹obey the command of King Ahasuerus ²delivered by the eunuchs?” 16 And in the presence of the king and the other officials, Memucan said, “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king but also all the officials and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. 17 For the queen’s conduct will ¹become known to all the women so as to make their own husbands despicable in their sight, when they say, ‘King Ahasuerus ²commanded that Queen Vashti be brought in to his presence, but she did not come.’ 18 And this day the wives of the officials of Persia and Media who have heard about the queen’s conduct will talk about it to all the king’s officials, and there will be plenty of contempt and anger. 19 If it pleases the king, let a royal ¹edict be issued by him and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media so ^athat it cannot ²be repealed, that Vashti may not come into the presence of King Ahasuerus, and let the king give her royal position to ³another who is more worthy than she. 20 When the king’s edict which he will make is heard throughout his kingdom, ¹great as it is, then ^aall women will give honor to their husbands, great and small.”

21 Now this word pleased the king and the officials, and the king did ¹as Memucan proposed. 22 So he sent letters to all the king’s provinces, ^ato each province according to its script and to every people according to their language, that every man was to ^bbe the ruler in his own house and the one who speaks in the language of his own people.

Now it happened in the days of ^aAhasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned ^bfrom India to ¹Ethiopia over ^c127 provinces, 2 in those days as King Ahasuerus ^asat on his royal throne which was at the citadel in ^bSusa, 3 in the third year of his reign, ^ahe held a feast for all his princes and servants, the military officers of Persia and Media, the nobles and the princes of his provinces being in his presence, 4 ¹while he displayed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor of his great majesty for many days, 180 days.

5 And when these days were fulfilled, the king held a feast lasting seven days for all the people who were present at the citadel in Susa, from the greatest to the least, in the court of ^athe garden of the king’s palace. 6 There were hangings of fine white and ¹blue linen held by cords of fine purple linen on silver rings and marble pillars, and ^acouches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and precious stones. 7 And drinks were served in golden vessels of various kinds, and the royal wine was plentiful ^aaccording to the king’s hand. 8 And the drinking was done according to the law; there was no compulsion, for so the king had established it for each official of his household—that he should do according to what pleased each person. 9 Queen Vashti also held 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 ^amerry with wine, he said for Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who attended to the presence of King Ahasuerus, 11 to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her royal ^acrown in order to display her beauty to the people and the princes, for she was ¹beautiful in appearance. 12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the word of the king which was delivered by the hand of the eunuchs. Then the king became exceedingly furious, and his wrath burned within him.

13 Then the king said to ^athe wise men ^bwho knew the times—for it was the custom of the king thus to speak before all who knew law and justice 14 and were close to him: Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media ^awho ¹had access to the king’s presence and sat in the first place in the kingdom— 15 “According to law, what is to be done with Queen Vashti, because she did not do the declaration of King Ahasuerus delivered by the hand of the eunuchs?” 16 Then in the presence of the king and the princes, Memucan said, “Queen Vashti has committed iniquity against not only the king but also against all the princes and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. 17 For the word about the queen will get out to all the women causing them to despise their husbands in their eyes by saying, ‘King Ahasuerus said for Queen Vashti to be brought in to his presence, but she did not come.’ 18 This day the ladies of Persia and Media who have heard of the word about the queen will speak in the same way to all the king’s princes, and there will be plenty of spite and indignation. 19 If it seems good to the king, let a royal word go forth from him, and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media so ^athat it cannot ¹be repealed, that Vashti may no longer come into the presence of King Ahasuerus, and let the king give her royal position to ²another who is better than she. 20 And the king’s sentence, which he will make, will be heard throughout all his kingdom, for it is ¹vast, and ^aall women will give respect to their husbands, great and small.”

21 And this word was good in the eyes of the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan. 22 So he sent letters to all the king’s provinces, ^ato each province according to its script and to every people according to their tongue, that every man should ^bbe the ruler in his own house and the one who speaks in the tongue of his own people.