Dual Panel1Now it took<1961> place<1961> in the days<3117> of Ahasuerus<325>, the Ahasuerus<325> who reigned<4427> from India<1912> to Ethiopia<3568> over 127 <7651><6242><3967> provinces<4082>,
2in those<1992> days<3117> as King<4428> Ahasuerus<325> sat<3427> on his royal<4438> throne<3678> which<834> was at the citadel<1002> in Susa<7800>,
3in the third<7969> year<8141> of his reign<4427> he gave<6213> a banquet<4960> for all<3605> his princes<8269> and attendants<5650>, the army<2428> officers of Persia<6539> and Media<4074>, the nobles<6579> and the princes<8269> of his provinces<4082> being in his presence<6440>.
4And he displayed<7200> the riches<6239> of his royal<4438> glory<3519> and the splendor<3366> of his great<1420> majesty<1420> for many<7227> days<3117>, 180 <8084><3967> days<3117>.
5When these<428> days<3117> were completed<4390>, the king<4428> gave<6213> a banquet<4960> lasting seven<7651> days<3117> for all<3605> the people<5971> who were present<4672> at the citadel<1002> in Susa<7800>, from the greatest<1419> to the least<6996>, in the court<2691> of the garden<1593> of the king's<4428> palace<1055>.
6There were hangings of fine<3768> white<2353> and violet<8504> linen<3768> held<270> by cords<2256> of fine<948> purple<713> linen<948> on silver<3701> rings<1551> and marble<8337> columns<5982>, and couches<4296> of gold<2091> and silver<3701> on a mosaic<7531> pavement<7531> of porphyry<923>, marble<8337>, mother-of-pearl<1858> and precious<5508> stones<5508>.
7Drinks<8248> were served<8248> in golden<2091> vessels<3627> of various<8132> kinds<3627>, and the royal<4438> wine<3196> was plentiful<7227> according to the king's<4428> bounty<3027>.
8The drinking<8360> was done according to the law<1881>, there<369> was no<369> compulsion<597>, for so<3651> the king<4428> had given<3245> orders<3245> to each<3605> official<7227> of his household<1004> that he should do<6213> according to the desires<7522> of each<376> person<376>.
9Queen<4436> Vashti<2060> also<1571> gave<6213> a banquet<4960> for the women<802> in the palace<1004> which<834> belonged to King<4428> Ahasuerus<325>.
10On the seventh<7637> day<3117>, when the heart<3820> of the king<4428> was merry<2895> with wine<3196>, he commanded<559> Mehuman<4104>, Biztha<968>, Harbona<2726>, Bigtha<903>, Abagtha<5>, Zethar<2242> and Carkas<3752>, the seven<7651> eunuchs<5631> who served<8334> in the presence<6440> of King<4428> Ahasuerus<325>,
11to bring<935> Queen<4436> Vashti<2060> before<6440> the king<4428> with her royal<4438> crown<3804> in order to display<7200> her beauty<3308> to the people<5971> and the princes<8269>, for she was beautiful<2896>.
12But Queen<4436> Vashti<2060> refused<3985> to come<935> at the king's<4428> command<1697> delivered<3027> by the eunuchs<5631>. Then the king<4428> became<7107> very<3966> angry<7107> and his wrath<2534> burned<1197> within him.
13Then the king<4428> said<559> to the wise<2450> men<2450> who understood<3045> the times<6256>--for it was the custom<1697> of the king<4428> so<3651> to speak before<6440> all<3605> who knew<3045> law<1881> and justice<1779>
14and were close<7138> to him: Carshena<3771>, Shethar<8369>, Admatha<133>, Tarshish<8659>, Meres<4825>, Marsena<4826> and Memucan<4462>, the seven<7651> princes<8269> of Persia<6539> and Media<4074> who had access<7200> to the king's<4428> presence<6440> and sat<3427> in the first<7223> place in the kingdom<4438>--
15"According to law<1881>, what<4100> is to be done<6213> with Queen<4436> Vashti<2060>, because<5921><834> she did not obey<6213> the command<3982> of King<4428> Ahasuerus<325> delivered by the eunuchs<5631>?"
16In the presence<6440> of the king<4428> and the princes<8269>, Memucan<4462> said<559>, "Queen<4436> Vashti<2060> has wronged<5753> not only<905> the king<4428> but also all<3605> the princes<8269> and all<3605> the peoples<5971> who<834> are in all<3605> the provinces<4082> of King<4428> Ahasuerus<325>.
17"For the queen's<4436> conduct<1697> will become<3318> known<3318> to all<3605> the women<802> causing them to look<5869> with contempt<959> on their husbands<1167> by saying<559>, 'King<4428> Ahasuerus<325> commanded<559> Queen<4436> Vashti<2060> to be brought<935> in to his presence<6440>, but she did not come<935>.'
18"This<2088> day<3117> the ladies<8282> of Persia<6539> and Media<4074> who<834> have heard<8085> of the queen's<4436> conduct<1697> will speak<559> in the same way to all<3605> the king's<4428> princes<8269>, and there will be plenty<1767> of contempt<963> and anger<7110>.
19"If<518> it pleases<2895> the king<4428>, let a royal<4438> edict<1697> be issued<3318> by him and let it be written<3789> in the laws<1881> of Persia<6539> and Media<4074> so that it cannot<3808> be repealed<5674>, that Vashti<2060> may no<3808> longer come<935> into the presence<6440> of King<4428> Ahasuerus<325>, and let the king<4428> give<5414> her royal<4438> position<4438> to another<7468> who is more<4480> worthy<2896> than<4480> she.
20"When the king's<4428> edict<6599> which<834> he will make<6213> is heard<8085> throughout all<3605> his kingdom<4438>, great<7227> as it is, then all<3605> women<802> will give<5414> honor<3366> to their husbands<1167>, great<1419> and small<6996>."
21This word<1697> pleased<3190><5869> the king<4428> and the princes<8269>, and the king<4428> did<6213> as Memucan<4462> proposed<1697>.
22So he sent<7971> letters<5612> to all<3605> the king's<4428> provinces<4082>, to each<4082> province<4082> according to its script<3791> and to every<5971> people<5971> according to their language<3956>, that every<3605> man<376> should be the master<8323> in his own house<1004> and the one who speaks<1696> in the language<3956> of his own people<5971>.