Esther 1 (BSB)

1 This is what happened in the days of Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces from India to Cush. 2 In those days King Xerxes sat on his royal throne in the citadel of Susa. 3 In the third year of his reign, Xerxes held a feast for all his officials and servants. The military leaders of Persia and Media were there, along with the nobles and princes of the provinces. 4 And for a full 180 days he displayed the glorious riches of his kingdom and the magnificent splendor of his greatness. 5 At the end of this time, in the garden court of the royal palace, the king held a seven-day feast for all the people in the citadel of Susa, from the least to the greatest. 6 Hangings of white and blue linen were fastened with cords of fine white and purple material to silver rings on the marble pillars. Gold and silver couches were arranged on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and other costly stones. 7 Beverages were served in an array of goblets of gold, each with a different design, and the royal wine flowed freely, according to the king’s bounty. 8 By order of the king, no limit was placed on the drinking, and every official of his household was to serve each man whatever he desired. 9 Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes. 10 On the seventh day, when the king’s heart was merry with wine, he ordered the seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas— 11 to bring Queen Vashti before him, wearing her royal crown, to display her beauty to the people and officials. For she was beautiful to behold. 12 Queen Vashti, however, refused to come at the king’s command brought by his eunuchs. And the king became furious, and his anger burned within him. 13 Then the king consulted the wise men who knew the times, for it was customary for him to confer with the experts in law and justice. 14 His closest advisors were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media who had personal access to the king and ranked highest in the kingdom. 15 “According to law,” he asked, “what should be done with Queen Vashti, since she refused to obey the command of King Xerxes delivered by the eunuchs?” 16 And in the presence of the king and his princes, Memucan replied, “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king, but all the princes and the peoples in all the provinces of King Xerxes. 17 For the conduct of the queen will become known to all women, causing them to despise their husbands and say, ‘King Xerxes ordered Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she did not come.’ 18 This very day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard about the queen’s conduct will say the same thing to all the king’s officials, resulting in much contempt and wrath. 19 So if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree, and let it be recorded in the laws of Persia and Media so that it cannot be repealed, that Vashti shall never again enter the presence of King Xerxes, and that her royal position shall be given to a woman better than she. 20 The edict the king issues will be heard throughout his vast kingdom—and so all women, from the least to the greatest, will honor their husbands.” 21 The king and his princes were pleased with this counsel; so the king did as Memucan had advised. 22 He sent letters to all the provinces of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language, proclaiming that every man should be master of his own household.

In Other Versions

Esther 1 in the ANGEFD

Esther 1 in the ANTPNG2D

Esther 1 in the AS21

Esther 1 in the BAGH

Esther 1 in the BBPNG

Esther 1 in the BBT1E

Esther 1 in the BDS

Esther 1 in the BEV

Esther 1 in the BHAD

Esther 1 in the BIB

Esther 1 in the BLPT

Esther 1 in the BNT

Esther 1 in the BNTABOOT

Esther 1 in the BNTLV

Esther 1 in the BOATCB

Esther 1 in the BOATCB2

Esther 1 in the BOBCV

Esther 1 in the BOCNT

Esther 1 in the BOECS

Esther 1 in the BOGWICC

Esther 1 in the BOHCB

Esther 1 in the BOHCV

Esther 1 in the BOHLNT

Esther 1 in the BOHNTLTAL

Esther 1 in the BOICB

Esther 1 in the BOILNTAP

Esther 1 in the BOITCV

Esther 1 in the BOKCV

Esther 1 in the BOKCV2

Esther 1 in the BOKHWOG

Esther 1 in the BOKSSV

Esther 1 in the BOLCB

Esther 1 in the BOLCB2

Esther 1 in the BOMCV

Esther 1 in the BONAV

Esther 1 in the BONCB

Esther 1 in the BONLT

Esther 1 in the BONUT2

Esther 1 in the BOPLNT

Esther 1 in the BOSCB

Esther 1 in the BOSNC

Esther 1 in the BOTLNT

Esther 1 in the BOVCB

Esther 1 in the BOYCB

Esther 1 in the BPBB

Esther 1 in the BPH

Esther 1 in the CCB

Esther 1 in the CUV

Esther 1 in the CUVS

Esther 1 in the DBT

Esther 1 in the DGDNT

Esther 1 in the DHNT

Esther 1 in the DNT

Esther 1 in the ELBE

Esther 1 in the EMTV

Esther 1 in the ESV

Esther 1 in the FBV

Esther 1 in the FEB

Esther 1 in the GGMNT

Esther 1 in the GNT

Esther 1 in the HARY

Esther 1 in the HNT

Esther 1 in the IRVA

Esther 1 in the IRVB

Esther 1 in the IRVG

Esther 1 in the IRVH

Esther 1 in the IRVK

Esther 1 in the IRVM

Esther 1 in the IRVM2

Esther 1 in the IRVO

Esther 1 in the IRVP

Esther 1 in the IRVT

Esther 1 in the IRVT2

Esther 1 in the IRVU

Esther 1 in the ISVN

Esther 1 in the JSNT

Esther 1 in the KAPI

Esther 1 in the KBT1ETNIK

Esther 1 in the KBV

Esther 1 in the KJV

Esther 1 in the KNFD

Esther 1 in the LBA

Esther 1 in the LBLA

Esther 1 in the LNT

Esther 1 in the LSV

Esther 1 in the MAAL

Esther 1 in the MBV

Esther 1 in the MBV2

Esther 1 in the MHNT

Esther 1 in the MKNFD

Esther 1 in the MNG

Esther 1 in the MNT

Esther 1 in the MNT2

Esther 1 in the MRS1T

Esther 1 in the NAA

Esther 1 in the NASB

Esther 1 in the NBLA

Esther 1 in the NBS

Esther 1 in the NBVTP

Esther 1 in the NET2

Esther 1 in the NIV11

Esther 1 in the NNT

Esther 1 in the NNT2

Esther 1 in the NNT3

Esther 1 in the PDDPT

Esther 1 in the PFNT

Esther 1 in the RMNT

Esther 1 in the SBIAS

Esther 1 in the SBIBS

Esther 1 in the SBIBS2

Esther 1 in the SBICS

Esther 1 in the SBIDS

Esther 1 in the SBIGS

Esther 1 in the SBIHS

Esther 1 in the SBIIS

Esther 1 in the SBIIS2

Esther 1 in the SBIIS3

Esther 1 in the SBIKS

Esther 1 in the SBIKS2

Esther 1 in the SBIMS

Esther 1 in the SBIOS

Esther 1 in the SBIPS

Esther 1 in the SBISS

Esther 1 in the SBITS

Esther 1 in the SBITS2

Esther 1 in the SBITS3

Esther 1 in the SBITS4

Esther 1 in the SBIUS

Esther 1 in the SBIVS

Esther 1 in the SBT

Esther 1 in the SBT1E

Esther 1 in the SCHL

Esther 1 in the SNT

Esther 1 in the SUSU

Esther 1 in the SUSU2

Esther 1 in the SYNO

Esther 1 in the TBIAOTANT

Esther 1 in the TBT1E

Esther 1 in the TBT1E2

Esther 1 in the TFTIP

Esther 1 in the TFTU

Esther 1 in the TGNTATF3T

Esther 1 in the THAI

Esther 1 in the TNFD

Esther 1 in the TNT

Esther 1 in the TNTIK

Esther 1 in the TNTIL

Esther 1 in the TNTIN

Esther 1 in the TNTIP

Esther 1 in the TNTIZ

Esther 1 in the TOMA

Esther 1 in the TTENT

Esther 1 in the UBG

Esther 1 in the UGV

Esther 1 in the UGV2

Esther 1 in the UGV3

Esther 1 in the VBL

Esther 1 in the VDCC

Esther 1 in the YALU

Esther 1 in the YAPE

Esther 1 in the YBVTP

Esther 1 in the ZBP