Esther 1

Revised Geneva Translation

1 In the days of Ahasuerus (This is Ahasuerus who reigned from India even to Ethiopia, over 127 provinces,

² in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on his throne, which was in the palace of Shushan),

³ in the third year of his reign, he made a feast for all his princes and his servants—even the power of Persia and Media—and to the captains and governors of the provinces which were before him.

⁴ So that he might show the riches and glory of his kingdom, and the honor of his great majesty for many days, even 180 days.

⁵ And when these days had expired, the king made a feast to all the people who were found in the palace of Shushan (both great and small) for seven days, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace,

⁶ under a hanging of white, green, and blue cloths, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple, in silver rings, and pillars of marble. The beds were of gold and of silver, upon a pavement of porphyry and marble and alabaster and blue color.

⁷ And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, and changed vessel after vessel, and royal wine in abundance, according to the power of the king.

⁸ And the drinking was voluntary. For so the king had ordered all the officers of his house: that they should do according to every man’s pleasure.

⁹ The Queen Vashti also made a feast for the women in the royal house of King Ahasuerus.

¹⁰ On the seventh day, when the King was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas (the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of king Ahasuerus)

¹¹ to bring Queen Vashti before the king with the crown royal, so that he might show the people and the princes her beauty; for she was fair to look upon.

¹² But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s word which he had given in charge to the eunuchs. Therefore, the king was very angry, and his wrath kindled in him.

¹³ Then the king said to the wise men who knew the times (for so was the King’s manner towards all who knew the law and the judgment—

¹⁴ and closest to him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia, and Media—who saw the king’s face and sat the first in the kingdom),

¹⁵ “What shall we do to Queen Vashti according to the law, because she did not do according to the word of King Ahasuerus, by the commission of the eunuchs?”

¹⁶ Then Memucan answered before the king and the princes, “The Queen Vashti has not only done evil against the king, but against all the princes, and against all the people who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.

¹⁷ For the act of the queen shall become known to all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their own eyes, and shall say, ‘The King Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the Queen to be brought in before him, but she did not come.’

¹⁸ “So shall the princesses of Persia and Media say this day to all the king’s princes when they hear of the act of the queen. Thus shall there be much spitefulness and wrath.

¹⁹ “If it please the king, let a royal decree proceed from him; and let it be written among the statutes of Persia and Media. And let it not be transgressed that Vashti come no more before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate to someone who is better than she.

²⁰ “And when the decree of the king, which shall be made, shall be published throughout all his kingdom (though it be great), all the women shall give their husbands honor, both great and small.”

²¹ And this saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan.

²² For he sent letters into all the provinces of the king, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people in their own language, so that every man should rule his own house; and so that he would publish it in the language of that same people.