1 Now it took place in the days of AEzra 4:6; Dan 9:1Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned BEsth 8:9from India to 1Lit CushEthiopia over CEsth 9:30127 provinces, 2 in those days as King Ahasuerus A1 Kin 1:46sat on his royal throne which was at the citadel in BNeh 1:1; Dan 8:2Susa, 3 in the third year of his reign AEsth 2:18he gave a banquet for all his princes and attendants, the army officers of Persia and Media, the nobles and the princes of his provinces being in his presence. 4 1Lit WhenAnd he displayed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor of his great majesty for many days, 180 days.

5 When these days were completed, the king gave a banquet lasting seven days for all the people who were present at the citadel in Susa, from the greatest to the least, in the court of AEsth 7:7, 8the garden of the king’s palace. 6 There were hangings of fine white and violet linen held by cords of fine purple linen on silver rings and marble columns, and AEzek 23:41; Amos 6:4couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and precious stones. 7 Drinks were served in golden vessels of various kinds, and the royal wine was plentiful AEsth 2:18according to the king’s 1Lit handbounty. 8 The drinking was done according to the law, there was no compulsion, for so the king had given orders to each official of his household that he should do according to the desires of each person. 9 Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the 1Lit royal housepalace which belonged to King Ahasuerus.

10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was AJudg 16:25merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus, 11 to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her royal AEsth 2:17; 6:8crown in order to display her beauty to the people and the princes, for she was beautiful. 12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command delivered by the eunuchs. Then the king became very angry and his wrath burned within him.

13 Then the king said to AJer 10:7; Dan 2:2the wise men B1 Chr 12:32who understood the times—for it was the custom of the king so to speak before all who knew law and justice 14 and were close to him: Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media A2 Kin 25:19; Matt 18:10who 1Lit saw the face of the kinghad access to the king’s presence and sat in the first place in the kingdom— 15 “According to law, what is to be done with Queen Vashti, because she did not 1Lit doobey the command of King Ahasuerus delivered by the eunuchs?” 16 In the presence of the king and the princes, Memucan said, “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king but also all the princes and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. 17  “For the queen’s conduct will 1Lit go forthbecome known to all the women causing them 2Lit to despise...in their eyesto look with contempt on their husbands by saying, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought in to his presence, but she did not come.’ 18  “This day the ladies of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s conduct will speak in the same way to all the king’s princes, and there will be plenty of contempt and anger. 19  “If it pleases the king, let a royal 1Lit word go forth fromedict be issued by him and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media so AEsth 8:8; Dan 6:8that it cannot 2Lit pass awaybe repealed, that Vashti may no longer come into the presence of King Ahasuerus, and let the king give her royal position to 3Lit her neighboranother who is more worthy than she. 20  “When the king’s edict which he will make is heard throughout all his kingdom, 1Lit for great is itgreat as it is, then AEph 5:22; Col 3:18all women will give honor to their husbands, great and small.”

21 This word pleased the king and the princes, and the king did 1Lit according to the word ofas Memucan proposed. 22 So he sent letters to all the king’s provinces, AEsth 3:12; 8:9to each province according to its script and to every people according to their language, that every man should BEph 5:22-24be the master in his own house and the one who speaks in the language of his own people.