Aconteció en los días de Asuero^1a, el rey Asuero que reinó desde la India hasta Etiopía² sobre ciento veintisiete provincias^b, 2 que en aquellos días, estando el rey Asuero reinando desde su trono real^a, en la fortaleza de Susa^b, 3 en el año tercero de su reinado, ofreció un banquete para todos sus príncipes y servidores^a, estando en su presencia los oficiales del ejército de Persia y Media, los nobles y los príncipes de sus provincias. 4 Y¹ él les mostró las riquezas de la gloria de su reino y el magnífico esplendor de su majestad durante muchos días, ciento ochenta días. 5 Cuando se cumplieron estos días, el rey ofreció un banquete de siete días para todo el pueblo que se encontraba en la fortaleza de Susa, desde el mayor hasta el menor, en el atrio del jardín del palacio del rey^a. 6 Había colgaduras de lino blanco y violeta, sostenidas por cordones de lino fino y púrpura en anillos de plata y columnas de mármol, y lechos de oro y plata sobre un pavimento mosaico de pórfido, de mármol, de alabastro^a y de piedras preciosas. 7 Las bebidas se servían en vasijas de oro de diferentes formas, y el vino real abundaba conforme a la liberalidad¹ del rey^a. 8 Y se bebía conforme a la ley, no había obligación, porque el rey así había dado órdenes a todos los oficiales de su casa para que hicieran conforme a los deseos de cada persona. 9 La reina Vasti también hizo un banquete para las mujeres en el palacio¹ que pertenecía al rey Asuero.

10 Al séptimo día, cuando el corazón del rey estaba alegre por el vino^a, él ordenó a Mehumán, a Bizta, a Harbona, a Bigta, a Abagta, a Zetar y a Carcas, los siete eunucos que servían en la presencia del rey Asuero, 11 que trajeran a la reina Vasti a la presencia del rey con su corona real^a, para mostrar al pueblo y a los príncipes su belleza, porque era muy hermosa. 12 Pero la reina Vasti rehusó venir al mandato del rey transmitido por¹ los eunucos. Entonces el rey se enojó mucho y se encendió su furor en él. 13 Y el rey dijo a los sabios^a que conocían los tiempos^b (pues era costumbre del rey consultar así a todos los que conocían la ley y el derecho, 14 y estaban junto a él Carsena, Setar, Admata, Tarsis, Meres, Marsena y Memucán, los siete príncipes de Persia y Media que tenían entrada a la presencia del¹ rey y que ocupaban los primeros puestos en el reino^a): 15 Conforme a la ley, ¿qué se debe hacer con la reina Vasti, por no haber obedecido¹ el mandato del rey Asuero transmitido por² los eunucos? 16 Y en presencia del rey y de los príncipes, Memucán dijo: La reina Vasti nosolo ha ofendido al rey sino también a todos los príncipes y a todos los pueblos que están en todas las provincias del rey Asuero. 17 Porque la conducta de la reina llegará a conocerse¹ por todas las mujeres y hará que ellas miren² con desdén a sus maridos, y digan: «El rey Asuero ordenó que la reina Vasti fuera llevada a su presencia, pero ella no fue». 18 Y desde hoy las señoras de Persia y Media que han oído de la conducta de la reina hablarán de la misma manera a todos los príncipes del rey, y habrá mucho desdén y enojo. 19 Si le place al rey, proclame él¹ un decreto real y que se escriba en las leyes de Persia y Media para que no sea revocado^2a, que Vasti no entre más a la presencia del rey Asuero, y que el rey dé su título de reina a otra³ que sea más digna que ella. 20 Y cuando el decreto que haga el rey sea oído por todo su reino, inmenso como es, entonces todas las mujeres darán honra a sus maridos^a, desde el mayor hasta el menor. 21 Esta palabra pareció bien al rey y a los príncipes, y el rey hizo conforme a lo dicho por Memucán. 22 Y envió cartas a todas las provincias del rey, a cada provincia conforme a su escritura y a cada pueblo conforme a su lengua^a, para que todo hombre fuera señor en su casa^b y que en ella se hablara la lengua de su pueblo.

Now it took place 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 gave a banquet for all his princes and attendants, the army officers of Persia and Media, the nobles and the princes of his provinces being in his presence. 4 ¹And 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 completed, the king gave 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 court of ^athe garden of the king’s palace. 6 There were hangings 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 pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and precious stones. 7 Drinks were served in golden vessels of various kinds, and the royal wine was plentiful ^aaccording to the king’s ¹bounty. 8 The drinking was done according to the law, there was no compulsion, for so the king had given orders to each official of his household that he should do according to the desires of each person. 9 Queen Vashti also gave 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 ^amerry with wine, he commanded 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 ^acrown in order to display her beauty to the people and the princes, for she was beautiful. 12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command delivered by the eunuchs. Then 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 so 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 ¹obey the command of King Ahasuerus delivered by the eunuchs?” 16 In the presence of the king and the princes, Memucan said, “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king but also all the princes 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 causing them ²to look with contempt on their husbands by saying, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded 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 queen’s conduct will speak in the same way to all the king’s princes, 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 no longer 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 all his kingdom, ¹great as it is, then ^aall women will give honor to their husbands, great and small.”

21 This word pleased the king and the princes, 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 should ^bbe the master 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 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.

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.