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 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.

1 亚哈随鲁在位的时候， 他统治从印度到古实共一百二十七省。

2 他在书珊城登了国位。

3 他执政第三年， 曾为众领袖和臣仆摆设筵席； 波斯和玛代的权贵， 以及各省的贵族和领袖都在他面前。

4 他把自己尊荣之国的财富和伟大威风的荣华， 向他们展现很多日子， 共有一百八十天。

5 这些日子过了， 王又为所有在书珊城的人民， 无论尊卑大小， 在御园的院子里摆设筵席七天。

6 御园中有白色绵织的帷幕、蓝色的幔子， 细麻绳、紫色绳悬在银环里和大理石柱上； 有金银的床榻摆在红色、白色、黄色和黑色的大理石所铺的地上。

7 赐饮都用金器皿； 器皿与器皿各有不同； 御酒很多， 足显王的厚赐。

8 饮酒都照着定例， 不准勉强； 因为王对他宫里的所有臣仆立下规矩， 要照着各人的意愿而行。

9 王后瓦实提也在亚哈随鲁王的王宫中， 为妇女们摆设筵席。

10 第七日， 亚哈随鲁王因饮酒心里高兴， 就吩咐侍候在他面前的七个太监： 米户幔、比斯他、哈波拿、比革他、亚拔他、西达、甲迦，

11 去请王后瓦实提， 戴着后冕到王面前， 使众人和大臣欣赏她的美丽； 因为她的容貌很美。

12 王后瓦实提却不肯遵照王借着太监所传的命令， 所以王非常生气， 怒火中烧。

13 王就咨询通达时务的哲士； 因为当时按照王的常规， 王要处理一事， 必先问问面前所有精通法令和审断的朝臣。

14 那时在王身边的有甲示拿、示达、押玛他、他施斯、米力、玛西拿、米母干等七位波斯、玛代的大臣； 他们都是常见王面， 在国中居首位的。

15 王问他们说： "王后瓦实提不遵行亚哈随鲁王借着太监所传的命令， 按照法令应怎样办理呢？"

16 米母干在王和众领袖面前回答： "王后瓦实提不但得罪了皇上， 而且还得罪了亚哈随鲁王各省的臣民。

17 因为王后这事必传到所有妇女的耳中， 会使她们眼中轻视自己的丈夫， 因为她们说： ‘亚哈随鲁王吩咐人带王后瓦实提到王面前， 她却没有来。’

18 现在波斯和玛代的公主贵妇听见王后这件事， 就必照样告诉王的大臣， 这样轻视和忿怒的事就常有了。

19 王若是赞成， 可以下一道谕旨， 并且写在波斯和玛代的法令中， 永不废除。不准瓦实提再到亚哈随鲁王面前来， 又请王把她王后的位分赐给另一位比她好的人。

20 王颁布的谕旨传遍全国的时候， 所有的妇女都必敬重她们的丈夫， 不论丈夫尊卑贵贱。"

21 王和众领袖都赞成米母干的话； 王就照着他的话去行，

22 把诏书送到王的各省， 每一省都用各省的文字， 每一族都用各族的方言， 使作丈夫的都在家中作主， 说话有权威。