1Now it happened in the days of Ahasuerus—that Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Cush over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces—
2in those days, when King Ahasuerus was seated on his royal throne, which was in Susa the citadel,
3in the third year of his reign he held a feast for all his officials and his servants—the army of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the officials of the provinces being before him—
4while he displayed the riches of the glory of his kingdom and the splendor of his majestic greatness for many days—a hundred and eighty days.
5And when these days were completed, the king held a feast for all the people present in Susa the citadel, from the greatest to the least, a feast of seven days, in the courtyard of the garden of the king’s palace.
6There were hangings of white cotton and violet, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings on pillars of marble; couches of gold and silver on a pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and colored stone.
7Drinks were served in vessels of gold—vessels differing one from another—and royal wine was abundant, in keeping with the king’s bounty.
8And the drinking was according to the decree, with no one compelling, for the king had instructed all the officials of his household to act according to the desire of each and every man.
9Also Queen Vashti held a feast for the women in the royal house that belonged to King Ahasuerus.
10On the seventh day, when the king’s heart was merry with wine, he told Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha and Abagtha, Zethar and Carkas—the seven eunuchs who ministered before King Ahasuerus—
11to bring Queen Vashti before the king wearing the royal crown, to show the peoples and the officials her beauty; for she was lovely to look at.
12But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s word delivered by the eunuchs. Then the king became very angry, and his wrath burned within him.
13So the king said to the wise men who knew the times—for such was the king’s practice before all who knew law and judgment—
14and those nearest to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven officials of Persia and Media who had access to the king’s presence and who ranked first in the kingdom—
15“According to law, what is to be done with Queen Vashti, because she has not carried out the command of King Ahasuerus delivered by the eunuchs?”
16Then Memucan declared before the king and the officials: “It is not against the king alone that Queen Vashti has done wrong, but against all the officials and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.
17For the report of the queen’s conduct will go out to all the women, making them despise their husbands in their eyes, when they say, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she did not come.’
18This very day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s deed will speak of it to all the king’s officials, and there will be no end of contempt and anger.
19If it seems good to the king, let a royal decree go out from him, and let it be written among the laws of Persia and Media, so that it cannot be revoked, that Vashti may not come before King Ahasuerus, and let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she.
20And when the king’s edict, which he will make, is heard throughout all his kingdom—for it is vast—then all the women will give honor to their husbands, from the greatest to the least.”
21The matter was pleasing in the eyes of the king and the officials, and the king acted according to the word of Memucan.
22So he sent letters to all the king’s provinces, to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, that every man should be master in his own household and speak according to the language of his own people.
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