“in the days of Ahasuerus, this was the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia, over 127 provinces.”
Esther 1
21 of 22 verses have a reading · Berean Standard Bible
Hear this chapter in one voice
WM
William MacDonald20
CM
Chuck Missler17
DM
Don McClure2
TC
Tom Chaplin1
LR
Leonard Ravenhill1
All voices →
William MacDonald20
CM
Chuck Missler17
DM
Don McClure2
TC
Tom Chaplin1
LR
Leonard Ravenhill1
All voices →
1This is what happened in the days of Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces from India to Cush.
2In those days King Xerxes sat on his royal throne in the citadel of Susa.
“In those days, when King Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan, the citadel,”
“in those days when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace.”
3In 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.
“that in the third year of his reign he made a feast for all his officials and servants, the powers of Persia and Media, the nobles and the princes of the provinces being before him.”
“in the third year of his reign, he, the king, made a feast unto all his princes and his servants, the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the province being before him.”
4And for a full 180 days he displayed the glorious riches of his kingdom and the magnificent splendor of his greatness.
“When he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the splendor of his excellent majesty for many days, 180 days in all.”
5At 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.
“And when these days were completed, the king made a feast lasting seven days for all the people who were present in Shushan the citadel from great to small in the court of the garden of the king's palace.”
6Hangings 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.
“There were white and blue linen curtains fastened with cords of fine linen and purple on silver rods and marble pillars, and the couches were of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of alabaster, turquoise, and white and black…”
“where were white, green, and blue hangings fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble, and the beds were of gold and silver upon a pavement of red and blue and white and black marble.”
7Beverages 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.
“and they served drinks in golden vessels, each vessel being different from the other, with royal wine in abundance according to the generosity of the king.”
8By 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.
“In accordance with the law, the drinking was not compulsory, for so the king had ordered all the offices of his household that they should do according to each man's pleasure.”
“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.”
9Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.
“Queen Vashti also made a feast for the women in the royal palace which belonged to King Ahasuerus.”
“Also, Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.”
10On 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—
no reading yet
11to bring Queen Vashti before him, wearing her royal crown, to display her beauty to the people and officials. For she was beautiful to behold.
“to bring Queen Vashti before the king wearing her royal crown in order to show her beauty to the people and the officials, for she was beautiful to behold.”
“to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to show the people and the princes her beauty, for she was fair to look on.”
“to bring Vashti, the queen before the king with the crown royal, to show the people and the princes her beauty, for she was fair to look”
12Queen 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.
“But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command, brought by his eunuchs. Therefore the king was furious, and his anger burned within him.”
“the Queen Vashti Refused to come to the king's commandment. By his Chamberlain's. Therefore was the king very wroth and his anger burned in him.”
“But the queen Vashti, verse 12, refused to come at the king's commandment by his chamberlains. Therefore, the king was very wroth, and his anger burned in him.”
13Then 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.
“Then the king said to the wise men who understood the times, that this was the king's manner toward all who knew law and justice,”
“the king say to the wise men, which knew the times, for so was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment.”
14His 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.
“And next to him was Carshena, Shethar, Admantha, Tarshish, Merez, Marcena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king's face and which sat the first 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?"
“What shall we do to Queen Vashti according to law, because she did not obey the command of King Ahasuerus, brought to her by the eunuchs?”
“What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to the law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?”
16And 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.
“Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Queen Vashti has not only wronged the king, but also all the princes and all the people who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.”
“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 king Ahasuerus.”
17For 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.'
“The queen's behavior will become known to all women, so that they will despise their husbands in their eyes when they report, King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought in before him, but she did not come.”
“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, and she…”
“For the Queen's behavior will be known to all women so that they will despise their husbands in their eyes and they will report King Azurus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought in before him, but she did not come.”
18This 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.
“This very day the noble ladies of Persia and Media will say to all the king's officials that they have heard of the behavior of the queen, thus there will be excessive contempt and wrath.”
“Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all their king's princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen, thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath.”
19So 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.
“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 the king Ahasuerus, and let the king…”
“If it pleases the king, let a royal decree go out from him, let it be recorded in the laws of the Medes and the Persians, so that it will not be altered that Vashti shall come no more before King Ahasuerus, and let the king give…”
20The 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."
“When the king's decree which he will make is proclaimed throughout all his empire, for it is great, all wives will honor their husbands, both great and small.”
“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 honor, both too great and small.”
“the king's decree which will be. Which he will make is proclaimed throughout his empire for it is great all Wives will honor their husbands both great and small”
21The king and his princes were pleased with this counsel; so the king did as Memucan had advised.
“the saying pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan,”
“and small. The reply pleased the king, and the princes of the king did according to the word of Memucan.”
22He 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.
“for he sent letters unto all the king's provinces, unto 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…”
“Then he sent letters to all the king's provinces, to each province in its own script, to every people in their own language, that each man should be master in his own house, speak in the language of his own people.”