Esther 1 – Bible | Equip God’s People

World English Bible Classic

^[1] Now in the days of Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus who reigned from India even to Ethiopia, over one hundred twenty-seven provinces), ^[2] in those days, when the King Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Susa the palace, ^[3] in the third year of his reign, he made a feast for all his princes and his servants; the army of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces being before him. ^[4] He displayed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honor of his excellent majesty many days, even one hundred eighty days. ^[5] When these days were fulfilled, the king made a seven day feast for all the people who were present in Susa the palace, both great and small, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace. ^[6] There were hangings of white and blue material, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and marble pillars. The couches were of gold and silver, on a pavement of red, white, yellow, and black marble. ^[7] They gave them drinks in golden vessels of various kinds, including royal wine in abundance, according to the bounty of the king. ^[8] In accordance with the law, the drinking was not compulsory; for so the king had instructed all the officials of his house, that they should do according to every man’s pleasure. ^[9] Also Vashti the queen made 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 merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcass, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, ^[11] to bring Vashti the queen before the king wearing the royal crown, to show the people and the princes her beauty; for she was beautiful. ^[12] But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by the eunuchs. Therefore the king was very angry, and his anger burned in him. ^[13] Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times (for it was the king’s custom to consult those who knew law and judgment; ^[14] and next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king’s face, and sat first in the kingdom), ^[15] “What shall we do to Queen Vashti according to law, because she has not done the bidding of the King Ahasuerus by the eunuchs?” ^[16] Memucan answered before the king and the princes, “Vashti the queen has not done wrong to just the king, but also to all the princes, and to all the people who are in all the provinces of the King Ahasuerus. ^[17] For this deed of the queen will become known to all women, causing them to show contempt for their husbands when it is reported, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she didn’t come.’ ^[18] Today, the princesses of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s deed will tell all the king’s princes. This will cause much contempt and wrath. ^[19] “If it pleases the king, let a royal commandment go from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it cannot be altered, that Vashti may never again come before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate to another who is better than she. ^[20] When the king’s decree which he shall make is published throughout all his kingdom (for it is great), all the wives will give their husbands honor, both great and small.” ^[21] This advice pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan: ^[22] for he sent letters into all the king’s provinces, into every province according to its writing, and to every people in their language, that every man should rule his own house, speaking in the language of his own people.

King James Version

^[1] Now it came to pass in the daysH3117 of Ahasuerus,H325 (this [is] AhasuerusH325 which reigned,H4427(QalActPtc) from IndiaH1912 even unto Ethiopia,H3568 [over] an hundredH3967 and sevenH7651 and twentyH6242 provinces:H4082) ^[2] [That] in those days,H3117 when the kingH4428 AhasuerusH325 satH3427(QalInf) on the throneH3678 of his kingdom,H4438 which [was] in ShushanH7800 the palace,H1002 ^[3] In the thirdH7969 yearH8141 of his reign,H4427(QalInf) he madeH6213(QalPerf) a feastH4960 unto all his princesH8269 and his servants;H5650 the powerH2428 of PersiaH6539 and Media,H4074 the noblesH6579 and princesH8269 of the provinces,H4082 [being] beforeH6440 him: ^[4] When he shewedH7200(HiphInf) the richesH6239 of his gloriousH3519 kingdomH4438 and the honourH3366 of his excellentH8597 majestyH1420 manyH7227 days,H3117 [even] an hundredH3967 and fourscoreH8084 days.H3117 ^[5] And when these daysH3117 were expired,H4390(QalInf) the kingH4428 madeH6213(QalPerf) a feastH4960 unto all the peopleH5971 that were presentH4672(NiphPtc) in ShushanH7800 the palace,H1002 both unto greatH1419 and small,H6996 sevenH7651 days,H3117 in the courtH2691 of the gardenH1594 of the king’sH4428 palace;H1055 ^[6] [Where were] white,H2353 green,H3768 and blue,H8504 [hangings], fastenedH270(QalPasPtc) with cordsH2256 of fine linenH948 and purpleH713 to silverH3701 ringsH1550 and pillarsH5982 of marble:H8336 the bedsH4296 [were of] goldH2091 and silver,H3701 upon a pavementH7531 of red,H923 and blue,H8504 and white,H1858 and black,H5508 marble.H8336 ^[7] And they gave [them] drinkH8248(HiphInf) in vesselsH3627 of gold,H2091 (the vesselsH3627 being diverseH8138(QalActPtc) one from another,H3627) and royalH4438 wineH3196 in abundance,H7227 according to the stateH3027 of the king.H4428 ^[8] And the drinkingH8360 [was] according to the law;H1881 none did compel:H597(QalActPtc) for so the kingH4428 had appointedH3245(PielPerf) to all the officersH7227 of his house,H1004 that they should doH6213(QalInf) according to every man’sH376 pleasure.H7522 ^[9] Also VashtiH2060 the queenH4436 madeH6213(QalPerf) a feastH4960 for the womenH802 [in] the royalH4438 houseH1004 which [belonged] to kingH4428 Ahasuerus.H325 ^[10] On the seventhH7637 day,H3117 when the heartH3820 of the kingH4428 was merryH2896 with wine,H3196 he commandedH559(QalPerf) Mehuman,H4104 Biztha,H968 Harbona,H2726 Bigtha,H903 and Abagtha,H5 Zethar,H2242 and Carcas,H3752 the sevenH7651 chamberlainsH5631 that servedH8334(PielPtc) in the presenceH6440 of AhasuerusH325 the king,H4428 ^[11] To bringH935(HiphInf) VashtiH2060 the queenH4436 beforeH6440 the kingH4428 with the crownH3804 royal,H4438 to shewH7200(HiphInf) the peopleH5971 and the princesH8269 her beauty:H3308 for she [was] fairH2896 to look on.H4758 ^[12] But the queenH4436 VashtiH2060 refusedH3985(PielImpf) to comeH935(QalInf) at the king’sH4428 commandmentH1697 byH3027 [his] chamberlains:H5631 therefore was the kingH4428 veryH3966 wroth,H7107(QalImpf) and his angerH2534 burnedH1197(QalPerf) in him. ^[13] Then the kingH4428 saidH559(QalImpf) to the wise men,H2450 which knewH3045(QalActPtc) the times,H6256 (for so [was] the king’sH4428 mannerH1697 towardH6440 all that knewH3045(QalActPtc) lawH1881 and judgment:H1779 ^[14] And the nextH7138 unto him [was] Carshena,H3771 Shethar,H8369 Admatha,H133 Tarshish,H8659 Meres,H4825 Marsena,H4826 [and] Memucan,H4462 the sevenH7651 princesH8269 of PersiaH6539 and Media,H4074 which sawH7200(QalActPtc) the king’sH4428 face,H6440 [and] which satH3427(QalActPtc) the firstH7223 in the kingdom;H4438) ^[15] What shall we doH6213(QalInf) unto the queenH4436 VashtiH2060 according to law,H1881 because she hath not performedH6213(QalPerf) the commandmentH3982 of the kingH4428 AhasuerusH325 byH3027 the chamberlains?H5631 ^[16] And MemucanH4462 answeredH559(QalImpf) beforeH6440 the kingH4428 and the princes,H8269 VashtiH2060 the queenH4436 hath not done wrongH5753(QalPerf) to the kingH4428 only, but also to all the princes,H8269 and to all the peopleH5971 that [are] in all the provincesH4082 of the kingH4428 Ahasuerus.H325 ^[17] For [this] deedH1697 of the queenH4436 shall come abroadH3318(QalImpf) unto all women,H802 so that they shall despiseH959(HiphInf) their husbandsH1167 in their eyes,H5869 when it shall be reported,H559(QalInf) The kingH4428 AhasuerusH325 commandedH559(QalPerf) VashtiH2060 the queenH4436 to be brought inH935(HiphInf) beforeH6440 him, but she cameH935(QalPerf) not. ^[18] [Likewise] shall the ladiesH8282 of PersiaH6539 and MediaH4074 sayH559(QalImpf) this dayH3117 unto all the king’sH4428 princes,H8269 which have heardH8085(QalPerf) of the deedH1697 of the queen.H4436 Thus [shall there arise] too muchH1767 contemptH963 and wrath.H7110 ^[19] If it pleaseH2895(QalPerf) the king,H4428 let there goH3318(QalImpf) a royalH4438 commandmentH1697 from him,H6440 and let it be writtenH3789(NiphImpf) among the lawsH1881 of the PersiansH6539 and the Medes,H4074 that it be not altered,H5674(QalImpf) That VashtiH2060 comeH935(QalImpf) no more beforeH6440 kingH4428 Ahasuerus;H325 and let the kingH4428 giveH5414(QalImpf) her royal estateH4438 unto anotherH7468 that is betterH2896 than she. ^[20] And when the king’sH4428 decreeH6599 which he shall makeH6213(QalImpf) shall be publishedH8085(NiphPerf) throughout all his empire,H4438 (for it is great,H7227) all the wivesH802 shall giveH5414(QalImpf) to their husbandsH1167 honour,H3366 both to greatH1419 and small.H6996 ^[21] And the sayingH1697 pleasedH3190(QalImpf) the kingH4428 and the princes;H8269 and the kingH4428 didH6213(QalImpf) according to the wordH1697 of Memucan:H4462 ^[22] For he sentH7971(QalImpf) lettersH5612 into all the king’sH4428 provinces,H4082 into every provinceH4082 according to the writingH3791 thereof, and to every peopleH5971 after their language,H3956 that every manH376 should bear ruleH8323(QalActPtc) in his own house,H1004 and that [it] should be publishedH1696(PielPtc) according to the languageH3956 of every people.H5971

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