Esther:1

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* 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 : ) * That in those days , when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom , which was in Shushan the palace , * * When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days , even an hundred and fourscore days . * 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 kings palace ; * 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 . * 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 . * 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 mans pleasure . * Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus . * 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 , * 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 mar #eh #. * But the queen Vashti refused to come at the kings commandment by his chamberlains : therefore was the king very wroth , and his anger burned in him . * Then the king said to the wise men , which knew the times , (for so was the kings manner toward all that knew law and judgment : * And the next unto him was Carshena , Shethar , Admatha , Tarshish , Meres , Marsena , and Memucan , the seven princes of Persia and Media , which saw the kings face , and which sat the first in the kingdom ; ) * 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 ? * 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 . * 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 . * Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the kings princes , which have heard of the deed of the queen . Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath . * 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 . * And when the kings 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 . * And the saying pleased the king and the princes ; and the king did according to the word of Memucan : * For he sent letters into all the kings 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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