Esther 1

All 22 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.

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1. 1Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus — this is the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia, over 127 provinces —
2. 2in those days, when King Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,
3. 3In the third year of his reign, he made a feast for all his princes and his servants. The powerful men of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, were before him.
4. 4when he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honor of his excellent majesty for many days — 180 days.
5. 5And when these days were over, the king made a feast for all the people who were present in Shushan the palace, both great and small, for seven days in the court of the garden of the king's palace.
6. 6There 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, blue, white, and black marble.
7. 7And they gave them drink in vessels of gold — the vessels being different one from another — and royal wine in abundance, according to the state of the king.
8. 8And the drinking was according to the law; no one was compelled, for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.
9. 9Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house that belonged to King Ahasuerus.
10. 10On the seventh day, when the king's heart was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus,
11. 11to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the royal crown, to show the people and the princes her beauty, for she was fair to look on.
12. 12But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command by his chamberlains. Therefore the king was very angry, and his anger burned in him.
13. 13Then the king said to the wise men who knew the times (for so was the king's custom toward all who knew law and judgment)
14. 14and the next to him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king's face and sat first in the kingdom —
15. 15"What shall we do to Queen Vashti according to the law, because she has not performed the command of King Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?"
16. 16Then Memucan answered before the king and the princes, "Queen Vashti has not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes and to all the people who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.
17. 17For the queen's deed will become known to all women, so that they will despise their husbands in their eyes, when it is reported, 'King Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she did not come.'
18. 18Likewise the ladies of Persia and Media who have heard of the deed of the queen will say this day to all the king's princes. Thus there will arise too much contempt and wrath.
19. 19If it pleases the king, let a royal command go out from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it is not altered, that Vashti come no more before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate to another who is better than she.
20. 20And when the king's decree that he shall make is published throughout all his empire — for it is great — all the wives shall give honor to their husbands, both great and small."
21. 21And the saying pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan.
22. 22He sent letters to all the king's provinces, using each province's script and each people's language, stating that every man should rule his own house, and that it should be published in every people's language.