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Esther
CHAPTER 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.
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
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