1 Now it came to pass in the days of ^[a]Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus who reigned from India even unto Ethiopia, over a hundred and seven and twenty provinces), ² that in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the ^[b]palace, ³ in 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; ⁴ when he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honor of his excellent majesty many days, even a hundred and fourscore days. ⁵ And when these days were fulfilled, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace. ⁶ There were hangings of ^[c]white cloth, of ^[d]green, and of blue, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the couches were of gold and silver, upon a pavement ^[e]of red, and white, and yellow, and black marble. ⁷ And they gave them drink in vessels of gold (the vessels being diverse one from another), and royal wine in abundance, according to the ^[f]bounty of the king. ⁸ And the drinking was according to the law; none could compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man’s pleasure.

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