1 I t was in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces.

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 I n those days when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne which was in Shushan or Susa in the palace or castle,

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

3 I n the third year of his reign he made a feast for all his princes and his courtiers. The chief officers of the Persian and Median army and the nobles and governors of the provinces were there before him

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 W hile he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the splendor and excellence of his majesty for many days, even 180 days.

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

5 A nd when these days were completed, the king made a feast for all the people present in Shushan the capital, both great and small, a seven-day feast in the court of the garden of the king’s palace.

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 T here were hangings of fine white cloth, of green and of blue, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings or rods and marble pillars. The couches of gold and silver rested on a pavement of porphyry, white marble, mother-of-pearl, and colored stones.

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

7 D rinks were served in different kinds of golden goblets, and there was royal wine in abundance, according to the liberality of the king.

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 A nd drinking was according to the law; no one was compelled to drink, for the king had directed all the officials of his palace to serve only as each guest desired.

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 A lso Queen Vashti gave a banquet for the women in the royal house which belonged to King Ahasuerus.

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

10 O n the seventh day, when the king’s heart was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who ministered to King Ahasuerus as attendants,

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 T o bring Queen Vashti before the king, with her royal crown, to show the peoples and the princes her beauty, for she was fair to behold.

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 B ut Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command conveyed by the eunuchs. Therefore the king was enraged, and his anger burned within him.

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

13 T hen the king spoke to the wise men who knew the times—for this was the king’s procedure toward all who were familiar with law and judgment—

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

14 T hose next to him being Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media who were in the king’s presence and held first place in the kingdom.

and the next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king's face, and who sat first in the kingdom),

15 A ccording to the law, what is to be done to Queen Vashti because she has not done the bidding of King Ahasuerus conveyed by the eunuchs?

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

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 F or this deed of the queen will become known to all women, making their husbands contemptible in their eyes, since they will say, King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she did not come.

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 T his very day the ladies of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s behavior will be telling it to all the king’s princes. So contempt and wrath in plenty will arise.

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 I f it pleases the king, let a royal command go forth from him and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and Medes, so that it may not be changed, that Vashti is to come no more before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she.

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 S o when the king’s decree is made and proclaimed throughout all his kingdom, extensive as it is, all wives will give honor to their husbands, high and low.

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 T his advice pleased the king and the princes, and the king did what Memucan proposed.

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

22 H e sent letters to all the royal provinces, to each in its own script and to every people in their own language, saying that every man should rule in his own house and speak there in the language of his own people.

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.