Esther 1
Living Bible
1 1-3 It was the third year of the reign of King Ahasuerus, emperor of vast Media-Persia, with its 127 provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia. This was the year of the great celebration at Shushan Palace, to which the emperor invited all his governors, aides, and army officers, bringing them in from every part of Media-Persia for the occasion. 4 The celebration lasted six months, a tremendous display of the wealth and glory of his empire.
5 When it was all over, the king gave a special party for the palace servants and officials—janitors and cabinet officials alike—for seven days of revelry, held in the courtyard of the palace garden. 6 The decorations were green, white, and blue, fastened with purple ribbons[a] tied to silver rings imbedded in marble pillars. Gold and silver benches stood on pavements of black, red, white, and yellow marble. 7 Drinks were served in gold goblets of many designs, and there was an abundance of royal wine, for the king was feeling very generous. 8 The only restriction on the drinking was that no one should be compelled to take more than he wanted, but those who wished could have as much as they pleased. For the king had instructed his officers to let everyone decide this matter for himself.
9 Queen Vashti gave a party for the women of the palace at the same time.
10 On the final day when the king was feeling high, half drunk from wine, he told the seven eunuchs who were his personal aides—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas— 11 to bring Queen Vashti to him with the royal crown upon her head so that all the men could gaze upon her beauty—for she was a very beautiful woman. 12 But when they conveyed the emperor’s order to Queen Vashti, she refused to come. The king was furious 13-15 but first consulted his lawyers, for he did nothing without their advice. They were men of wisdom who knew the temper of the times as well as Persian law and justice, and the king trusted their judgment. These men were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan—seven high officials of Media-Persia. They were his personal friends as well as being the chief officers of the government.
“What shall we do about this situation?” he asked them. “What penalty does the law provide for a queen who refuses to obey the king’s orders, properly sent through his aides?”
16 Memucan answered for the others, “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king but every official and citizen of your empire. 17 For women everywhere will begin to disobey their husbands when they learn what Queen Vashti has done. 18 And before this day is out, the wife of every one of us officials throughout your empire will hear what the queen did and will start talking to us husbands the same way, and there will be contempt and anger throughout your realm. 19 We suggest that, subject to your agreement, you issue a royal edict, a law of the Medes and Persians that can never be changed, that Queen Vashti be forever banished from your presence and that you choose another queen more worthy than she. 20 When this decree is published throughout your great kingdom, husbands everywhere, whatever their rank, will be respected by their wives!”
21 The king and all his aides thought this made good sense, so he followed Memucan’s counsel 22 and sent letters to all of his provinces, in all the local languages, stressing that every man should rule his home and should assert his authority.
Footnotes
- Esther 1:6 fastened with purple ribbons, literally, “fastened with cords of fine linen and purple thread.”
Ester 1
Magandang Balita Biblia
Sinuway ni Reyna Vasti si Haring Xerxes
1 Nang(A) panahon ni Haring Xerxes ng Persia, ang sakop niya'y mula sa India hanggang Etiopia.[a] Binubuo ito ng 127 lalawigan. 2 Ang kanyang palasyo ay nasa Lunsod ng Susa na siyang kapitolyo ng Persia.
3 Nang ikatlong taon ng kanyang paghahari, siya ay naghanda ng isang piging para sa kanyang mga pinuno, mga katulong sa palasyo, mga punong-kawal ng Persia at Media, pati mga maharlika at mga gobernador ng mga lalawigan. 4 Ipinagparangalan niya sa mga ito ang kayamanan ng kanyang kaharian at ang karangyaan ng kanyang pamumuhay. Ang piging ay tumagal nang 180 araw.
5 Pagkaraan nito, naghanda naman siya ng piging para sa lahat ng taga-Susa, dakila o hamak man. Ito'y ginanap sa patyo sa may hardin ng palasyo, at tumagal nang pitong araw. 6 Puting-puti ang mga kurtina at maraming palawit na kulay asul. Ang mga tali nito'y nilubid na pinong lino at murado, at nakasabit sa mga argolyang pilak. Marmol ang mga haligi ng palasyo. Yari sa ginto't pilak ang mga upuan. Ang sahig ay mosaik na yari sa porfido, alabastro, nakar, at mamahaling bato. 7 Ang mga alak ay inihain sa mga kopitang ginto na iba't iba ang hugis. Napakaraming mamahaling alak ang inilabas; alak na angkop lamang sa isang hari. 8 Walang humpay ang pagpapamahagi ng inumin; ipinag-utos ng hari sa mga katulong na ibigay ang hilig ng bawat isa.[b] Walang pilitan sapagkat ipinag-utos ng hari sa kanyang mga katulong na ibigay ang hilig ng bawat isa. 9 Samantala, si Reyna Vasti ay nagdaos din ng piging sa palasyo para naman sa kababaihan.
10 Nang ikapitong araw na ng pagdiriwang, medyo lango na ang hari. Ipinatawag niya sina Mehuman, Bizta, Harvona, Bigta, Abagta, Zetar at Carcas, ang pitong eunukong nag-aasikaso sa kanya. 11 Ipinasundo niya si Reyna Vasti. Ipinasabi niyang isuot ng reyna ang korona nito upang ipagmayabang sa lahat ng naroon ang kagandahan nito, sapagkat ito nama'y talagang maganda. 12 Ngunit hindi pinansin ng reyna ang mga sugo ng hari. Dahil dito, lubhang nagalit ang hari.
13 Tuwing may pangyayaring tulad nito, ipinapatawag ng hari ang mga pantas tungkol sa kapanahunan, mga dalubhasa sa batas at paghatol 14 upang sangguniin. Ito'y sina Carsena, Setar, Admata, Tarsis, Meres, Marsena at Memucan. Sila ang pitong pangunahing pinuno ng Persia at Media. Malapit sila sa hari, at mga pangunahin sa buong kaharian. 15 Itinanong ng hari, “Ano ang dapat gawin kay Reyna Vasti dahil sa pagsuway niya sa utos ko sa pamamagitan ng mga sugo?”
16 Sumagot si Memucan, “Si Reyna Vasti ay nagkasala, hindi lamang sa hari kundi pati sa mga pinuno at sa lahat ng nasasakupan ninyo, Haring Xerxes. 17 Ang pangyayaring ito'y tiyak na malalaman ng lahat ng babae sa kaharian. Kung magkagayon, magkakaroon sila ng katuwirang sumuway sa kanilang asawa. Idadahilan nilang sinuway ni Reyna Vasti ang hari. 18 Ngayon pa ay natitiyak kong alam na ito ng mga pangunahing babae ng Persia at Media at sasabihin na sa mga pinuno ng hari. Dahil dito, tiyak na lalaganap ang kawalan ng respeto sa mga asawang lalaki, at ito'y hahantong sa maraming kalupitan. 19 Kaya, kung inyong mamarapatin, magpalabas kayo ng isang utos na maisasama sa mga kautusan ng Persia at Media para hindi mabago. Sa bisa ng utos na ito, aalisin kay Vasti ang pagiging reyna at papalitan siya ng mas mabuting reyna. 20 Kapag ito'y naipahayag na sa buong kaharian, tiyak na igagalang ng mga babae ang kanilang mga asawa, maging hamak o dakila man.”
21 Nagustuhan ng hari at ng kanyang mga pinuno ang payo ni Memucan, at ito nga ang ginawa ng hari. 22 Pinadalhan niya ng sulat ang mga lalawigang sakop niya. Ang liham ay nakasulat ayon sa wika ng bawat lalawigan. Ipinapahayag sa liham na ito na dapat ang asawang lalaki ang siyang pinuno ng kanyang sambahayan.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Magandang Balita Biblia, Copyright © Philippine Bible Society 2012.
