Esther 1:10-21
Legacy Standard Bible
Queen Vashti’s Refusal
10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was (A)merry with wine, he said for Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who attended to the presence of King Ahasuerus, 11 to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her royal (B)crown in order to display her beauty to the people and the princes, for she was [a]beautiful in appearance. 12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the word of the king which was delivered by the hand of the eunuchs. Then the king became exceedingly furious, and his wrath burned within him.
13 Then the king said to (C)the wise men (D)who knew the times—for it was the custom of the king thus 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 (E)who [b]had 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 do the declaration of King Ahasuerus delivered by the hand of the eunuchs?” 16 Then in the presence of the king and the princes, Memucan said, “Queen Vashti has committed iniquity against not only the king but also against all the princes and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. 17 For the word about the queen will get out to all the women causing them to despise their husbands in their eyes by saying, ‘King Ahasuerus said for 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 word about the queen will speak in the same way to all the king’s princes, and there will be plenty of spite and indignation. 19 If it seems good to the king, let a royal word go forth from him, and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media so (F)that it cannot [c]be repealed, that Vashti may no longer come into the presence of King Ahasuerus, and let the king give her royal position to [d]another who is better than she. 20 And the king’s sentence, which he will make, will be heard throughout all his kingdom, for it is [e]vast, and (G)all women will give respect to their husbands, great and small.”
21 And this word was good in the eyes of the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Esther 1:11 Lit good, so in Esth
- Esther 1:14 Lit saw the face of the king
- Esther 1:19 Lit pass away
- Esther 1:19 Lit her neighbor
- Esther 1:20 Lit great
Esther 1:10-21
New American Standard Bible
Queen Vashti’s Refusal
10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was (A)cheerful with wine, he ordered 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 (B)turban in order to display her beauty to the people and the officials, for she was beautiful. 12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s order [a]delivered by the eunuchs. So the king became very angry, and his wrath burned within him.
13 Then the king said to (C)the wise men (D)who understood the times—for it was the custom of the king to speak this way before all who knew Persian law and justice 14 and were close to him, namely, Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven officials of Persia and Media (E)who [b]had 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, since she did not [c]obey the command of King Ahasuerus [d]delivered by the eunuchs?” 16 And in the presence of the king and the other officials, Memucan said, “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king but also all the officials and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. 17 For the queen’s conduct will [e]become known to all the women so as to make their own husbands despicable in their sight, when they say, ‘King Ahasuerus [f]commanded that Queen Vashti be brought in to his presence, but she did not come.’ 18 And this day the wives of the officials of Persia and Media who have heard about the queen’s conduct will talk about it to all the king’s officials, and there will be plenty of contempt and anger. 19 If it pleases the king, let a royal [g]edict be issued by him and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media so (F)that it cannot [h]be repealed, that Vashti may not come into the presence of King Ahasuerus, and let the king give her royal position to [i]another who is more worthy than she. 20 When the king’s edict which he will make is heard throughout his kingdom, [j]great as it is, then (G)all women will give honor to their husbands, great and small.”
21 Now this word pleased the king and the officials, and the king did [k]as Memucan proposed.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Esther 1:12 Lit by the hand of the
- Esther 1:14 Lit saw the face of the king
- Esther 1:15 Lit do
- Esther 1:15 Lit by the hand of the
- Esther 1:17 Lit go forth
- Esther 1:17 Lit said to bring
- Esther 1:19 Lit word go forth from
- Esther 1:19 Lit pass by
- Esther 1:19 Lit her neighbor
- Esther 1:20 Lit for great is it
- Esther 1:21 Lit according to the word of
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