Esther

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:)

1This happened long ago, when Ahasuerus was king. He ruled 127 provinces, from India all the way to Ethiopia.

NoteAhasuerus is the Persian king also known as Xerxes.

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

2In those days King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne. His throne was in the strong city of Shushan.

3In 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:

3In his third year as king, he gave a great feast. He invited his officials and his servants. Army leaders from Persia and Media came. Nobles and rulers of the provinces came too.

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

4For 180 days he showed off the riches of his kingdom. He showed everyone how grand and important he was.

5And 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;

5When those days were over, the king gave another feast. It lasted seven days, in the garden court of his palace. Everyone in Shushan was invited, both important people and ordinary people.

6Where 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.

6White and blue cloth hung there. It was tied with cords of fine white and purple linen to silver rings on marble posts. Gold and silver couches stood on a floor of colored stone.

NoteThe "beds" in this verse are couches. Guests lay on them while they ate.

7And 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.

7Drinks were served in gold cups. Each cup had its own design. The king's own wine was poured out freely.

8And 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.

8The king set no limit on the drinking. No one was forced to drink. He told the palace servants to give each man what he wanted.

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

9Queen Vashti also gave a feast. It was for the women, in the royal palace of King Ahasuerus.

10On 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,

10On the seventh day the king felt merry from the wine. He called seven servants who waited on him: Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas.

Note"Chamberlains" were servants who worked closest to the king inside the palace.

11To 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.

11He told them to bring Queen Vashti to him, wearing her royal crown. He wanted to show the people and the officials how beautiful she was. She was lovely to look at.

12But 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.

12But Queen Vashti said no. She would not come when the servants brought the king's order. The king was very angry. His anger burned inside him.

13Then 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:

13Then the king spoke to his wise men, who understood the times. He always asked such men about laws and about what was fair.

14And 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;)

14His closest helpers were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan. These seven leaders of Persia and Media could come straight to the king. They held the highest places in the kingdom.

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

15The king asked them, "What does the law say to do with Queen Vashti? She did not obey the order my servants brought her."

16And 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.

16Memucan answered in front of the king and the leaders. "Queen Vashti has not only wronged the king. She has wronged all the leaders and all the people in every province."

17For 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.

17"Every woman will hear what the queen did. Then they will look down on their husbands. They will say, 'The king called Queen Vashti, but she would not come.'"

18Likewise 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.

18"This very day the important women of Persia and Media will hear about it. They will talk the same way to all the king's officials. There will be much disrespect and much anger."

19If 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.

19"If it pleases the king, send out a royal order. Write it in the laws of Persia and Media, which no one is allowed to change. Say that Vashti may never come before the king again. Then give her place as queen to a better woman."

20And 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.

20"The king's order will be heard all through his huge kingdom. Then every wife will honor her husband, both the important ones and the ordinary ones."

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

21The king and his leaders were pleased with this advice. So the king did what Memucan said.

22For 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.

22He sent letters to every province in his kingdom. Each letter used that province's own writing and its own language. The letters said that every man should rule his own house.