Esther 1:1-9

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

King Ahasuerus Deposes Queen Vashti

1 This happened in the days of Ahasuerus, the same Ahasuerus who ruled over one hundred twenty-seven provinces from India to Cush.^{(A) 2} In those days when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in the citadel of Susa,^{(B) 3} in the third year of his reign, he gave a banquet for all his officials and ministers. The army of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the governors of the provinces were present,^{(C) 4} while he displayed the great wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and pomp of his majesty for many days, one hundred eighty days in all.

⁵ When these days were completed, the king gave for all the people present in the citadel of Susa, both great and small, a banquet lasting for seven days, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace.^{(D) 6} There were white cotton curtains and blue hangings tied with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings^[a] and marble pillars. There were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and colored stones.^{(E) 7} Drinks were served in golden goblets, goblets of different kinds, and the royal wine was lavished according to the bounty of the king.^{(F) 8} Drinking was by ordinance without restraint, for the king had given orders to all the officials of his palace to do as each one desired. ⁹ Furthermore, Queen Vashti gave a banquet for the women in the palace of King Ahasuerus.