Esther 1:13-22
New American Standard Bible
13 Then the king said to (A)the wise men (B)who 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 (C)who [a]had 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 [b]obey the command of King Ahasuerus [c]delivered 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 [d]become known to all the women so as to make their own husbands despicable in their sight, when they say, ‘King Ahasuerus [e]commanded 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let a royal [f]edict be issued by him and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media so (D)that it cannot [g]be repealed, that Vashti may not come into the presence of King Ahasuerus, and let the king give her royal position to [h]another who is more worthy than she. 20 When the king’s edict which he will make is heard throughout his kingdom, [i]great as it is, then (E)all women will give honor to their husbands, great and small.”
21 Now this word pleased the king and the officials, and the king did [j]as Memucan proposed. 22 So he sent letters to all the king’s provinces, (F)to each province according to its script and to every people according to their language, that every man was to (G)be the ruler in his own house and the one who speaks in the language of his own people.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Esther 1:14 Lit saw the face of the king
- Esther 1:15 Lit do
- Esther 1:15 Lit by the hand of the
- Esther 1:17 Lit go forth
- Esther 1:17 Lit said to bring
- Esther 1:19 Lit word go forth from
- Esther 1:19 Lit pass by
- Esther 1:19 Lit her neighbor
- Esther 1:20 Lit for great is it
- Esther 1:21 Lit according to the word of
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