¹ Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)

² That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,

³ In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him:

⁴ When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days.

⁵ And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace;

⁶ Where were white, green, and blue, hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black, marble.

⁷ And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being diverse one from another,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the state of the king.

⁸ And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers 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 Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,

¹¹ To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on.

¹² But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.

¹³ Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment:

¹⁴ And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king's face, and which sat the first in the kingdom;)

¹⁵ What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?

¹⁶ And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.

¹⁷ For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.

¹⁸ Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king's princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath.

¹⁹ If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.

²⁰ And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small.

²¹ And the 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 king's provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and that it should be published according to the language of every people.

---

¹ Now it came to pass in the days ^H3117 of Ahasuerus, ^H325 (this is Ahasuerus ^H325 which reigned, ^H4427 from India ^H1912 even unto Ethiopia, ^H3568 over an hundred ^H3967 and seven ^H7651 and twenty ^H6242 provinces:) ^H4082

² That in those days, ^H3117 when the king ^H4428 Ahasuerus ^H325 sat ^H3427 on the throne ^H3678 of his kingdom, ^H4438 which was in Shushan ^H7800 the palace, ^H1002

³ In the third ^H7969 year ^H8141 of his reign, ^H4427 he made ^H6213 a feast ^H4960 unto all his princes ^H8269 and his servants; ^H5650 the power ^H2428 of Persia ^H6539 and Media, ^H4074 the nobles ^H6579 and princes ^H8269 of the provinces, ^H4082 being before ^H6440 him:

⁴ When he shewed ^H7200 the riches ^H6239 of his glorious ^H3519 kingdom ^H4438 and the honour ^H3366 of his excellent ^H8597 majesty ^H1420 many ^H7227 days, ^H3117 even an hundred ^H3967 and fourscore ^H8084 days. ^H3117

⁵ And when these days ^H3117 were expired, ^H4390 the king ^H4428 made ^H6213 a feast ^H4960 unto all the people ^H5971 that were present ^H4672 in Shushan ^H7800 the palace, ^H1002 both unto great ^H1419 and small, ^H6996 seven ^H7651 days, ^H3117 in the court ^H2691 of the garden ^H1594 of the king's ^H4428 palace; ^H1055

⁶ Where were white, ^H2353 green, ^H3768 and blue, ^H8504 hangings, fastened ^H270 with cords ^H2256 of fine linen ^H948 and purple ^H713 to silver ^H3701 rings ^H1550 and pillars ^H5982 of marble: ^H8336 the beds ^H4296 were of gold ^H2091 and silver, ^H3701 upon a pavement ^H7531 of red, ^H923 and blue, ^H8504 and white, ^H1858 and black, ^H5508 marble. ^H8336

⁷ And they gave them drink ^H8248 in vessels ^H3627 of gold, ^H2091 (the vessels ^H3627 being diverse ^H8138 one from another,) ^H3627 and royal ^H4438 wine ^H3196 in abundance, ^H7227 according to the state ^H3027 of the king. ^H4428

⁸ And the drinking ^H8360 was according to the law; ^H1881 none did compel: ^H597 for so the king ^H4428 had appointed ^H3245 to all the officers ^H7227 of his house, ^H1004 that they should do ^H6213 according to every man's ^H376 pleasure. ^H7522

⁹ Also Vashti ^H2060 the queen ^H4436 made ^H6213 a feast ^H4960 for the women ^H802 in the royal ^H4438 house ^H1004 which belonged to king ^H4428 Ahasuerus. ^H325

¹⁰ On the seventh ^H7637 day, ^H3117 when the heart ^H3820 of the king ^H4428 was merry ^H2896 with wine, ^H3196 he commanded ^H559 Mehuman, ^H4104 Biztha, ^H968 Harbona, ^H2726 Bigtha, ^H903 and Abagtha, ^H5 Zethar, ^H2242 and Carcas, ^H3752 the seven ^H7651 chamberlains ^H5631 that served ^H8334 in the presence ^H6440 of Ahasuerus ^H325 the king, ^H4428

¹¹ To bring ^H935 Vashti ^H2060 the queen ^H4436 before ^H6440 the king ^H4428 with the crown ^H3804 royal, ^H4438 to shew ^H7200 the people ^H5971 and the princes ^H8269 her beauty: ^H3308 for she was fair ^H2896 to look on. ^H4758

¹² But the queen ^H4436 Vashti ^H2060 refused ^H3985 to come ^H935 at the king's ^H4428 commandment ^H1697 by ^H3027 his chamberlains: ^H5631 therefore was the king ^H4428 very ^H3966 wroth, ^H7107 and his anger ^H2534 burned ^H1197 in him.

¹³ Then the king ^H4428 said ^H559 to the wise men, ^H2450 which knew ^H3045 the times, ^H6256 (for so was the king's ^H4428 manner ^H1697 toward ^H6440 all that knew ^H3045 law ^H1881 and judgment: ^H1779

¹⁴ And the next ^H7138 unto him was Carshena, ^H3771 Shethar, ^H8369 Admatha, ^H133 Tarshish, ^H8659 Meres, ^H4825 Marsena, ^H4826 and Memucan, ^H4462 the seven ^H7651 princes ^H8269 of Persia ^H6539 and Media, ^H4074 which saw ^H7200 the king's ^H4428 face, ^H6440 and which sat ^H3427 the first ^H7223 in the kingdom;) ^H4438

¹⁵ What shall we do ^H6213 unto the queen ^H4436 Vashti ^H2060 according to law, ^H1881 because she hath not performed ^H6213 the commandment ^H3982 of the king ^H4428 Ahasuerus ^H325 by ^H3027 the chamberlains? ^H5631

¹⁶ And Memucan ^H4462 answered ^H559 before ^H6440 the king ^H4428 and the princes, ^H8269 Vashti ^H2060 the queen ^H4436 hath not done wrong ^H5753 to the king ^H4428 only, but also to all the princes, ^H8269 and to all the people ^H5971 that are in all the provinces ^H4082 of the king ^H4428 Ahasuerus. ^H325

¹⁷ For this deed ^H1697 of the queen ^H4436 shall come abroad ^H3318 unto all women, ^H802 so that they shall despise ^H959 their husbands ^H1167 in their eyes, ^H5869 when it shall be reported, ^H559 The king ^H4428 Ahasuerus ^H325 commanded ^H559 Vashti ^H2060 the queen ^H4436 to be brought in ^H935 before ^H6440 him, but she came ^H935 not.

¹⁸ Likewise shall the ladies ^H8282 of Persia ^H6539 and Media ^H4074 say ^H559 this day ^H3117 unto all the king's ^H4428 princes, ^H8269 which have heard ^H8085 of the deed ^H1697 of the queen. ^H4436 Thus shall there arise too much ^H1767 contempt ^H963 and wrath. ^H7110

¹⁹ If it please ^H2895 the king, ^H4428 let there go ^H3318 a royal ^H4438 commandment ^H1697 from him, ^H6440 and let it be written ^H3789 among the laws ^H1881 of the Persians ^H6539 and the Medes, ^H4074 that it be not altered, ^H5674 That Vashti ^H2060 come ^H935 no more before ^H6440 king ^H4428 Ahasuerus; ^H325 and let the king ^H4428 give ^H5414 her royal estate ^H4438 unto another ^H7468 that is better ^H2896 than she.

²⁰ And when the king's ^H4428 decree ^H6599 which he shall make ^H6213 shall be published ^H8085 throughout all his empire, ^H4438 (for it is great,) ^H7227 all the wives ^H802 shall give ^H5414 to their husbands ^H1167 honour, ^H3366 both to great ^H1419 and small. ^H6996

²¹ And the saying ^H1697 pleased ^{H3190 H5869} the king ^H4428 and the princes; ^H8269 and the king ^H4428 did ^H6213 according to the word ^H1697 of Memucan: ^H4462

²² For he sent ^H7971 letters ^H5612 into all the king's ^H4428 provinces, ^H4082 into every province ^H4082 according to the writing ^H3791 thereof, and to every people ^H5971 after their language, ^H3956 that every man ^H376 should bear rule ^H8323 in his own house, ^H1004 and that it should be published ^H1696 according to the language ^H3956 of every people. ^H5971

---

¹ Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus who reigned from India even unto Ethiopia, over a hundred and seven and twenty provinces),

² that in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,

³ in the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him;

⁴ when he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honor of his excellent majesty many days, even a hundred and fourscore days.

⁵ And when these days were fulfilled, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace.

⁶ `There were hangings of' white `cloth', `of' green, and `of' blue, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the couches were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and white, and yellow, and black marble.

⁷ And they gave them drink in vessels of gold (the vessels being diverse one from another), and royal wine in abundance, according to the bounty of the king.

⁸ And the drinking was according to the law; none could compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers 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 Carcas, the seven chamberlains that ministered in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,

¹¹ to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to show the peoples and the princes her beauty; for she was fair to look on.

¹² But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by the chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.

¹³ Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times, (for so was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment;

¹⁴ and the next unto 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 unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not done the bidding of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?

¹⁶ And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the peoples that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.

¹⁷ For this deed of the queen will come abroad unto all women, to make their husbands contemptible in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.

¹⁸ And this day will the princesses of Persia and Media who have heard of the deed of the queen say `the like' unto all the king's princes. So `will there arise' much contempt and wrath.

¹⁹ If it please the king, let there go forth a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, that Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.

²⁰ And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his kingdom (for it is great), all the wives will give to their husbands honor, both to great and small.

²¹ And the 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 king's provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and should speak according to the language of his people.

---

¹ And it cometh to pass, in the days of Ahasuerus -- he `is' Ahasuerus who is reigning from Hodu even unto Cush, seven and twenty and a hundred provinces --

² in those days, at the sitting of the king Ahasuerus on the throne of his kingdom, that `is' in Shushan the palace,

³ in the third year of his reign, he hath made a banquet to all his heads and his servants; of the force of Persia and Media, the chiefs and heads of the provinces `are' before him,

⁴ in his shewing the wealth of the honour of his kingdom, and the glory of the beauty of his greatness, many days -- eighty and a hundred days.

⁵ And at the fulness of these days hath the king made to all the people who are found in Shushan the palace, from great even unto small, a banquet, seven days, in the court of the garden of the house of the king --

⁶ white linen, white cotton, and blue, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple on rings of silver, and pillars of marble, couches of gold, and of silver, on a pavement of smaragdus, and white marble, and mother-of-pearl, and black marble --

⁷ and the giving of drink in vessels of gold, and the vessels `are' divers vessels, and the royal wine `is' abundant, as a memorial of the king.

⁸ And the drinking `is' according to law, none is pressing, for so hath the king appointed for every chief one of his house, to do according to the pleasure of man and man.

⁹ Also Vashti the queen hath made a banquet for women, in the royal house that the king Ahasuerus hath.

¹⁰ On the seventh day, as the heart of the king is glad with wine, he hath said to Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven eunuchs who are ministering in the presence of the king Ahasuerus,

¹¹ to bring in Vashti the queen before the king, with a royal crown, to shew the peoples and the heads her beauty, for she `is' of good appearance,

¹² and the queen Vashti refuseth to come in at the word of the king that `is' by the hand of the eunuchs, and the king is very wroth, and his fury hath burned in him.

¹³ And the king saith to wise men, knowing the times -- for so `is' the word of the king before all knowing law and judgment,

¹⁴ and he who is near unto him `is' Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, Memucan, seven heads of Persia and Media seeing the face of the king, who are sitting first in the kingdom --

¹⁵ `According to law, what -- to do with queen Vashti, because that she hath not done the saying of the king Ahasuerus by the hand of the eunuchs?'

¹⁶ And Memucan saith before the king and the heads, `Not against the king by himself hath Vashti the queen done perversely, but against all the heads, and against all the peoples that `are' in all provinces of the king Ahasuerus;

¹⁷ for go forth doth the word of the queen unto all the women, to render their husbands contemptible in their eyes, in their saying, The king Ahasuerus said to bring in Vashti the queen before him, and she did not come;

¹⁸ yea, this day do princesses of Persia and Media, who have heard the word of the queen, say `so' to all heads of the king, even according to the sufficiency of contempt and wrath.

¹⁹ `If to the king `it be' good, there goeth forth a royal word from before him, and it is written with the laws of Persia and Media, and doth not pass away, that Vashti doth not come in before the king Ahasuerus, and her royalty doth the king give to her companion who `is' better than she;

²⁰ and the sentence of the king that he maketh hath been heard in all his kingdom -- for it `is' great -- and all the wives give honour to their husbands, from great even unto small.'

²¹ And the thing is good in the eyes of the king, and of the princes, and the king doth according to the word of Memucan,

²² and sendeth letters unto all provinces of the king, unto province and province according to its writing, and unto people and people according to its tongue, for every man being head in his own house -- and speaking according to the language of his people.

---

¹ And it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus (that is, the Ahasuerus that reigned from India even to Ethiopia, over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces),

² in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the fortress,

³ in the third year of his reign, he made a feast to all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and the princes of the provinces being before him;

⁴ when he shewed the glorious wealth of his kingdom and the splendid magnificence of his grandeur many days, a hundred and eighty days.

⁵ And when these days were expired, the king made a feast to all the people that were present in Shushan the fortress, both to great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace.

⁶ White, green, and blue [hangings] were fastened with cords of byssus and purple to silver rings and pillars of white marble; couches of gold and silver [lay] upon a pavement of red and white marble, and alabaster, and black marble.

⁷ And they gave drink in vessels of gold (the vessels being diverse one from another), and royal wine in abundance, according to the king's bounty.

⁸ And the drinking was, according to commandment, without constraint; for so the king had appointed to all the magnates of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.

⁹ Also the queen Vashti made a feast for the women of the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.

¹⁰ On the seventh day, when the king's heart was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of king Ahasuerus,

¹¹ to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the royal crown to shew the peoples and the princes her beauty; for she was of beautiful countenance.

¹² But the queen Vashti refused to come at the word of the king which was [sent] by the chamberlains; and the king was very wroth, and his fury burned in him.

¹³ And the king said to the wise men who knew the times (for so was the king's business [conducted] before all that knew law and judgment;

¹⁴ and the 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 who sat first in the kingdom),

¹⁵ What shall be done to the queen Vashti according to law, because she has not performed the word of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?

¹⁶ Then said Memucan before the king and the princes, The queen Vashti has not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the peoples that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.

¹⁷ For the act of the queen will come abroad to all women, so as to render their husbands contemptible in their eyes, when they shall say, The king Ahasuerus commanded the queen Vashti to be brought in before him, and she came not!

¹⁸ And the princesses of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen's act, will say it this day to all the king's princes, and there will be contempt and anger enough.

¹⁹ If it please the king, let a royal order go forth from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it may not pass, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate to another that is better than she;

²⁰ and when the king's edict which he shall make shall be heard throughout his realm -- for it is great -- all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, from the greatest to the least.

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

²² And he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people according to their language, That every man should bear rule in his own house, and should speak according to the language of his people.

---

¹ Now it happened in the days of Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus who reigned from India even to Ethiopia, over one hundred twenty-seven provinces),

² that in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,

³ in the third year of his reign, he made a feast to all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him;

⁴ when he shown 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 feast to all the people who were present in Shushan the palace, both great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace.

⁶ [There were hangings of] white [cloth], [of] green, and [of] blue, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the couches were of gold and silver, on a pavement of red, and white, and yellow, and black marble.

⁷ They gave them drink in vessels of gold (the vessels being diverse one from another), and royal wine in abundance, according to the bounty of the king.

⁸ The drinking was according to the law; none could compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers 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 chamberlains who ministered in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,

¹¹ to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to show the peoples and the princes her beauty; for she was beautiful to look on.

¹² But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by the chamberlains: therefore was the king very angry, and his anger burned in him.

¹³ Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times, (for so was the king's manner toward all who knew law and judgment;

¹⁴ and the 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 the queen Vashti according to law, because she has not done the bidding of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?

¹⁶ Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen has not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the peoples who are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.

¹⁷ For this deed of the queen will come abroad to all women, to make their husbands contemptible in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she didn't come.

¹⁸ This day will the princesses of Persia and Media who have heard of the deed of the queen say [the like] to all the king's princes. So [will there arise] much contempt and wrath.

¹⁹ If it please the king, let there go forth a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it not be altered, that Vashti come no more 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 shall be published throughout all his kingdom (for it is great), all the wives will give to their husbands honor, both to great and small.

²¹ The 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 king's provinces, into every province according to the writing of it, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and should speak according to the language of his people.

---

¹ Now it came about in the days of Ahasuerus, (that Ahasuerus who was ruler of a hundred and twenty-seven divisions of the kingdom, from India as far as Ethiopia:)

² That in those days, when King Ahasuerus was ruling in Shushan, his strong town,

³ In the third year of his rule he gave a feast to all his captains and his servants; and the captains of the army of Persia and Media, the great men and the rulers of the divisions of his kingdom, were present before him;

⁴ And for a long time, even a hundred and eighty days, he let them see all the wealth and the glory of his kingdom and the great power and honour which were his.

⁵ And at the end of that time, the king gave a feast for all the people who were present in Shushan, the king's town, small as well as great, for seven days, in the outer square of the garden of the king's house.

⁶ There were fair hangings of white and green and blue, fixed with cords of purple and the best linen to silver rings and pillars of polished stone: the seats were of gold and silver on a floor of red and white and yellow and black stone.

⁷ And they gave them drink in gold vessels, every vessel being different, and wine of the kingdom, freely given by the king.

⁸ And the drinking was in keeping with the law; no one was forced: for the king had given orders to all the chief servants of his house to do as was pleasing to every man.

⁹ And Vashti the queen gave a feast for the women in the house of King Ahasuerus.

¹⁰ On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was glad with wine, he gave orders to Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven unsexed servants who were waiting before Ahasuerus the king,

¹¹ That Vashti the queen was to come before him, crowned with her crown, and let the people and the captains see her: for she was very beautiful.

¹² But when the servants gave her the king's order, Vashti the queen said she would not come: then the king was very angry, and his heart was burning with wrath.

¹³ And the king said to the wise men, who had knowledge of the times, (for this was the king's way with all who were expert in law and in the giving of decisions:

¹⁴ And second only to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven rulers of Persia and Media, who were friends of the king, and had the first places in the kingdom:)

¹⁵ What is to be done by law to Vashti the queen, because she has not done what King Ahasuerus, by his servants, gave her orders to do?

¹⁶ And before the king and the captains, Memucan gave his answer: Vashti the queen has done wrong, not only to the king, but to all the captains and to all the peoples in all the divisions of the kingdom of King Ahasuerus;

¹⁷ For news of what the queen has done will come to the ears of all women, and they will no longer give respect to their husbands when it is said to them, King Ahasuerus gave orders for Vashti the queen to come before him and she came not.

¹⁸ And the wives of the captains of Persia and Media, hearing what the queen has done, will say the same to all the king's captains. So there will be much shame and wrath.

¹⁹ If it is pleasing to the king, let an order go out from him, and let it be recorded among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it may never be changed, that Vashti is never again to come before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her place to another who is better than she.

²⁰ And when this order, given by the king, is made public through all his kingdom (for it is great), all the wives will give honour to their husbands, great as well as small.

²¹ And this suggestion seemed good to the king and the captains; and the king did as Memucan said;

²² And sent letters to all the divisions of the kingdom, to every division in the writing commonly used there, and to every people in the language which was theirs, saying that every man was to be the ruler in his house, and that this order was to be given out in the language of his people.