Esther 1 (kjv)

1

Now it came to pass in the daysH3117 of AhasuerusH325, (this is AhasuerusH325 which reignedH4427, from IndiaH1912 even unto EthiopiaH3568, over an hundredH3967 and sevenH7651 and twentyH6242 provincesH4082:)2That in those daysH3117, when the kingH4428 AhasuerusH325 satH3427 on the throneH3678 of his kingdomH4438, which was in ShushanH7800 the palaceH1002,3In the thirdH7969 yearH8141 of his reignH4427, he madeH6213 a feastH4960 unto all his princesH8269 and his servantsH5650; the powerH2428 of PersiaH6539 and MediaH4074, the noblesH6579 and princesH8269 of the provincesH4082, being beforeH6440 him:4When he shewedH7200 the richesH6239 of his gloriousH3519 kingdomH4438 and the honourH3366 of his excellentH8597 majestyH1420 manyH7227 daysH3117, even an hundredH3967 and fourscoreH8084 daysH3117.5And when these daysH3117 were expiredH4390, the kingH4428 madeH6213 a feastH4960 unto all the peopleH5971 that were presentH4672 in ShushanH7800 the palaceH1002, both unto greatH1419 and smallH6996, sevenH7651 daysH3117, in the courtH2691 of the gardenH1594 of the king'sH4428 palaceH1055;6Where were whiteH2353, greenH3768, and blueH8504, hangings, fastenedH270 with cordsH2256 of fine linenH948 and purpleH713 to silverH3701 ringsH1550 and pillarsH5982 of marbleH8336: the bedsH4296 were of goldH2091 and silverH3701, upon a pavementH7531 of redH923, and blueH8504, and whiteH1858, and blackH5508, marbleH8336.7And they gave them drinkH8248 in vesselsH3627 of goldH2091, (the vesselsH3627 being diverseH8138 one from anotherH3627,) and royalH4438 wineH3196 in abundanceH7227, according to the stateH3027 of the kingH4428.8And the drinkingH8360 was according to the lawH1881; none did compelH597: for so the kingH4428 had appointedH3245 to all the officersH7227 of his houseH1004, that they should doH6213 according to every man'sH376 pleasureH7522.9Also VashtiH2060 the queenH4436 madeH6213 a feastH4960 for the womenH802 in the royalH4438 houseH1004 which belonged to kingH4428 AhasuerusH325.

10On the seventhH7637 dayH3117, when the heartH3820 of the kingH4428 was merryH2896 with wineH3196, he commandedH559 MehumanH4104, BizthaH968, HarbonaH2726, BigthaH903, and AbagthaH5, ZetharH2242, and CarcasH3752, the sevenH7651 chamberlainsH5631 that servedH8334 in the presenceH6440 of AhasuerusH325 the kingH4428,11To bringH935 VashtiH2060 the queenH4436 beforeH6440 the kingH4428 with the crownH3804 royalH4438, to shewH7200 the peopleH5971 and the princesH8269 her beautyH3308: for she was fairH2896 to look onH4758.12But the queenH4436 VashtiH2060 refusedH3985 to comeH935 at the king'sH4428 commandmentH1697 byH3027 his chamberlainsH5631: therefore was the kingH4428 veryH3966 wrothH7107, and his angerH2534 burnedH1197 in him.

13Then the kingH4428 saidH559 to the wise menH2450, which knewH3045 the timesH6256, (for so was the king'sH4428 mannerH1697 towardH6440 all that knewH3045 lawH1881 and judgmentH1779:14And the nextH7138 unto him was CarshenaH3771, ShetharH8369, AdmathaH133, TarshishH8659, MeresH4825, MarsenaH4826, and MemucanH4462, the sevenH7651 princesH8269 of PersiaH6539 and MediaH4074, which sawH7200 the king'sH4428 faceH6440, and which satH3427 the firstH7223 in the kingdomH4438;)15What shall we doH6213 unto the queenH4436 VashtiH2060 according to lawH1881, because she hath not performedH6213 the commandmentH3982 of the kingH4428 AhasuerusH325 byH3027 the chamberlainsH5631?16And MemucanH4462 answeredH559 beforeH6440 the kingH4428 and the princesH8269, VashtiH2060 the queenH4436 hath not done wrongH5753 to the kingH4428 only, but also to all the princesH8269, and to all the peopleH5971 that are in all the provincesH4082 of the kingH4428 AhasuerusH325.17For this deedH1697 of the queenH4436 shall come abroadH3318 unto all womenH802, so that they shall despiseH959 their husbandsH1167 in their eyesH5869, when it shall be reportedH559, The kingH4428 AhasuerusH325 commandedH559 VashtiH2060 the queenH4436 to be brought inH935 beforeH6440 him, but she cameH935 not.18Likewise shall the ladiesH8282 of PersiaH6539 and MediaH4074 sayH559 this dayH3117 unto all the king'sH4428 princesH8269, which have heardH8085 of the deedH1697 of the queenH4436. Thus shall there arise too muchH1767 contemptH963 and wrathH7110.19If it pleaseH2895 the kingH4428, let there goH3318 a royalH4438 commandmentH1697 from himH6440, and let it be writtenH3789 among the lawsH1881 of the PersiansH6539 and the MedesH4074, that it be not alteredH5674, That VashtiH2060 comeH935 no more beforeH6440 kingH4428 AhasuerusH325; and let the kingH4428 giveH5414 her royal estateH4438 unto anotherH7468 that is betterH2896 than she.20And when the king'sH4428 decreeH6599 which he shall makeH6213 shall be publishedH8085 throughout all his empireH4438, (for it is greatH7227,) all the wivesH802 shall giveH5414 to their husbandsH1167 honourH3366, both to greatH1419 and smallH6996.21And the sayingH1697 pleasedH3190 H5869 the kingH4428 and the princesH8269; and the kingH4428 didH6213 according to the wordH1697 of MemucanH4462:22For he sentH7971 lettersH5612 into all the king'sH4428 provincesH4082, into every provinceH4082 according to the writingH3791 thereof, and to every peopleH5971 after their languageH3956, that every manH376 should bear ruleH8323 in his own houseH1004, and that it should be publishedH1696 according to the languageH3956 of every peopleH5971.