Esther 1

New Life Version

1 This is what happened in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who ruled over 127 parts of the nation from India to Ethiopia. ² In those days King Ahasuerus sat on the king’s throne in the city of Susa. ³ In the third year of his rule, he gave a special supper for all his princes and leaders. The army captains of Persia and Media, the important men and princes of the many parts of the country were there with him. ⁴ For 180 days he showed the great riches and honor and power that were his as king of the nation. ⁵ When all the days were over, the king gave a supper lasting seven days for all the people from the greatest to the least who were in the city of Susa where he ruled. The supper was given in the open space of the garden of the king’s special house. ⁶ There were curtains of fine white and blue linen held by ropes of fine purple linen on silver rings and marble pillars. There were seats of gold and silver on a floor made of small glass-like pieces, marble, mother-of-pearl, and stones of much worth. ⁷ Drinks were served in different kinds of gold cups, and there was much wine, because the king was very able and willing to give it. ⁸ Drinking was done by the law. No one was made to drink. The king had told all the workmen of his house that they should give each person what he wanted. ⁹ Queen Vashti also gave a special supper for the women in the beautiful house that belonged to King Ahasuerus.

¹⁰ On the seventh day the heart of the king was happy with wine. And he told Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas, the seven servants who served King Ahasuerus, ¹¹ to bring Queen Vashti to the king with her crown. He wanted to show her beauty to the people and the princes, for she was beautiful. ¹² But Queen Vashti would not come when the king sent his servants to bring her. So the king became very angry and his anger burned within him. ¹³ Then the king spoke to the wise men who understood the times. For it was the king’s way to speak with all who knew law and what was right and fair. ¹⁴ These men next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media. They were allowed to visit with the king and were next to the king in the nation. ¹⁵ He asked them, “By the law, what is to be done with Queen Vashti, because she did not obey what King Ahasuerus sent the servants to tell her?” ¹⁶ Then Memucan said in front of the king and the princes, “Queen Vashti has done wrong not only to the king, but to all the princes and all the people in the lands of King Ahasuerus. ¹⁷ For what the queen has done will become known to all the women, and will make them hate their husbands. They will say, ‘King Ahasuerus told Queen Vashti to be brought to him, but she would not come.’ ¹⁸ This very day the ladies of Persia and Media who have heard what the queen has done will speak in the same way to all the king’s princes. And there will be much hate and anger. ¹⁹ If it pleases the king, let word be sent by him, and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media which cannot be changed, that Vashti should not come again to King Ahasuerus. Let the king give the place of queen to another who is better than she. ²⁰ Then the king’s word will be heard through all his great nation, and all women will give honor to their husbands, from the greatest to the least.” ²¹ What was said pleased the king and the princes, and the king did as Memucan said. ²² So he sent letters to all parts of the king’s nation, to each land in its own writing and to every people in their own language. The letters said that every man should rule in his own house and speak there in the language of his own people.