1 Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which
reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an 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 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 shewed the riches of his glorious
kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even an
hundred and fourscore days. (180 days)
5 And when these days were expired, the king
made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the
palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the
garden of the king's palace; 6 Where were white, green, and blue,
hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings
and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement
of red, and blue, and white, 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 state of the king. 8 And
the drinking was according to the law; none did 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.
10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine,
he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and
Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus
the king, 11 To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown
royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair
to look on.
12 But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's
commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and
his anger burned in him.
13 Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so was
the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment: 14 And the
next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena,
and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king's
face, and which sat the first in the kingdom;)
15 What shall we do unto
the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not performed the
commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?
16 And Memucan
answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done
wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the
people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus. 17 For this
deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall
despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The
king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him,
but she came not.
18 Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say
this day unto all the king's princes, which have heard of the deed of
the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath.
19 If it
please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it
be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not
altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the
king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.
20 And
when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout
all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their
husbands honour, both to great and small.
21 And the saying pleased the
king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan:
22 For he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every
province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after
their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and
that it should be published according to the language of every people.
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Ephesians 5:33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.