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Esther 1
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.
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