Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus (this was the Ahasuerus who reigned over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces, from India to Ethiopia),

in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the citadel,

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--

when he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the splendor of his excellent majesty for many days, one hundred and eighty days in all.

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 kinǵs palace.

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 marble.

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.

In accordance with the law, the drinking was not compulsory; for so the king had ordered all the officers of his household, that they should do according to each mańs pleasure.

Queen Vashti also made a feast for the women in the royal palace 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, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus,

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.

But Queen Vashti refused to come at the kinǵs command brought by his eunuchs; therefore the king was furious, and his anger burned within him.

Then the king said to the wise men who understood the times (for this was the kinǵs manner toward all who knew law and justice,

those closest to him being Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who had access to the kinǵs presence, and who ranked highest in the kingdom):

«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?»

And 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.

For the queeńs 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.́

This very day the noble ladies of Persia and Media will say to all the kinǵs officials that they have heard of the behavior of the queen. Thus there will be excessive contempt and wrath.

If it pleases the king, let a royal decree go out from him, and let it be recorded in the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it will not be altered, that Vashti shall come no more before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she.

When the kinǵs 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 the reply pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan.

Then he sent letters to all the kinǵs provinces, to each province in its own script, and to every people in their own language, that each man should be master in his own house, and speak in the language of his own people.

Now it happened on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the kinǵs palace, across from the kinǵs house, while the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, facing the entrance of the house.

So it was, when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, that she found favor in his sight, and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther went near and touched the top of the scepter.

And the king said to her, «What do you wish, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given to you--up to half the kingdom!»

So Esther answered, «If it pleases the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him.»

Then the king said, «Bring Haman quickly, that he may do as Esther has said.» So the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

At the banquet of wine the king said to Esther, «What is your petition? It shall be granted you. What is your request, up to half the kingdom? It shall be done!»

Then Esther answered and said, «My petition and request is this:

If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, then let the king and Haman come to the banquet which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said.»

So Haman went out that day joyful and with a glad heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in the kinǵs gate, and that he did not stand or tremble before him, he was filled with indignation against Mordecai.

Nevertheless Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and called for his friends and his wife Zeresh.

Then Haman told them of his great riches, the multitude of his children, everything in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and servants of the king.

Moreover Haman said, «Besides, Queen Esther invited no one but me to come in with the king to the banquet that she prepared; and tomorrow I am again invited by her, along with the king.

Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the kinǵs gate.»

Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, «Let a gallows be made, fifty cubits high, and in the morning suggest to the king that Mordecai be hanged on it; then go merrily with the king to the banquet.» And the thing pleased Haman; so he had the gallows made.

So the king and Haman went to dine with Queen Esther.

And on the second day, at the banquet of wine, the king again said to Esther, «What is your petition, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request, up to half the kingdom? It shall be done!»

Then Queen Esther answered and said, «If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request.

For we have been sold, my people and I, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. Had we been sold as male and female slaves, I would have held my tongue, although the enemy could never compensate for the kinǵs loss.»

So King Ahasuerus answered and said to Queen Esther, «Who is he, and where is he, who would dare presume in his heart to do such a thing?»

And Esther said, «The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman!» So Haman was terrified before the king and queen.

Then the king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine and went into the palace garden; but Haman stood before Queen Esther, pleading for his life, for he saw that evil was determined against him by the king.

When the king returned from the palace garden to the place of the banquet of wine, Haman had fallen across the couch where Esther was. Then the king said, «Will he also assault the queen while I am in the house?» As the word left the kinǵs mouth, they covered Hamańs face.

Now Harbonah, one of the eunuchs, said to the king, «Look! The gallows, fifty cubits high, which Haman made for Mordecai, who spoke good on the kinǵs behalf, is standing at the house of Haman.» Then the king said, «Hang him on it!»

So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the kinǵs wrath subsided.