1 Era o terceiro ano do reinado de Assuero, que dominava sobre o vasto império medo-persa, com as suas 127 províncias, estendendo-se da Índia até Cuche*1.1 Embora nalgumas traduções bíblicas apareça como Etiópia, na verdade Cuche estava localizada a sul do Egito, numa área que envolve hoje parte da Etiópia e do Sudão.. 2 Houve nesse ano uma grande celebração no palácio de Susã, 3 para a qual o imperador convidou todos os seus governadores, colaboradores e oficiais do exército da Pérsia e da Média, fazendo-os deslocarem-se de todos os cantos do seu território para a ocasião. 4 Essa festa durou seis meses, e foi uma tremenda demonstração da riqueza e glória do seu império.

5 Quando tudo terminou, o rei deu uma receção especial para a população de Susã, tanto pobres como ricos; foram mais sete dias de festa nos pátios e jardins do palácio. 6 Havia belas decorações a verde, branco e azul, presas com faixas de púrpura a argolas de prata suspensas em colunas de marfim, e canapés de ouro e prata num chão pavimentado com pórfiro, mármore, alabastro e pedras preciosas; as bebidas eram servidas em taças de ouro com diferentes desenhos. 7 Havia abundância de vinho real, porque o rei estava inclinado à generosidade. 8 Todos bebiam sem constrangimento, quanto tivessem na vontade; o rei dera instruções para que toda a gente fizesse como lhe apetecia.

9 Também a rainha Vasti ofereceu, na mesma ocasião, um banquete às mulheres do palácio.

10 No sétimo dia, sentindo-se alegre com o vinho, o rei ordenou aos seus sete eunucos, Meumá, Bizta, Harbona, Bigta, Abagta, Zetar e Carcás 11 que lhe trouxessem a rainha Vasti com a coroa real na cabeça, para que todos pudessem admirar a sua beleza, porque era uma mulher muito bonita. 12 A rainha recusou obedecer a essa ordem e o soberano ficou furioso. 13 Antes de tomar qualquer medida, ele resolveu consultar primeiro os homens das leis, porque não fazia nada sem o seu conselho. 14 Tratava-se de pessoas muitos sábias, conhecedoras das diversas situações e de todas as leis da justiça. Os seus nomes eram Carsena, Setar, Admata, Társis, Meres, Marsena e Memucã, sete altos funcionários da Pérsia e da Média que tinham acesso direto ao rei.

15 "Que castigo prevê a lei", perguntou-lhes, "para uma rainha que recuse obedecer às ordens do rei através dos seus eunucos?"

16 Memucã foi o porta-voz de todos: "A rainha Vasti prevaricou não só em relação ao rei, mas contra todos príncipes e cidadãos deste império. 17 Corre-se o risco de as mulheres, por toda a parte, começarem a desobedecer aos maridos, quando tiverem conhecimento do que a rainha Vasti fez. 18 Antes que este mesmo dia termine, as mulheres da Pérsia e da Média terão conhecimento da atitude que a rainha tomou, e falarão com os seus maridos da mesma maneira, e haverá desprezo e indignação por toda a parte.

19 Sugerimos pois que, se for do teu agrado, se publique um édito real que se torne lei para os medos e persas, que jamais poderá ser revogado e no qual se decretará que a rainha Vasti seja banida para sempre da tua presença, e que escolhas outra rainha mais digna do que ela. 20 Quando esse édito for tornado público em todo o teu vasto domínio, todas as mulheres serão levadas a respeitar os seus maridos, seja qual for o seu nível social!"

21 O rei e todos os seus colaboradores concordaram com este parecer e decidiram decretá-lo. 22 Enviaram cartas para todas as províncias do império, escritas nas línguas de cada região, lembrando que cada homem deveria ser soberano no seu lar.

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;*1.5 present: Heb. found 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.*1.6 blue, hangings: or, violet, etc*1.6 of red…: or, of porphyre, and marble and alabaster, and stone of blue colour 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.*1.7 royal…: Heb. wine of the kingdom*1.7 state: Heb. hand 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,*1.10 chamberlains: or, eunuchs 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.*1.11 fair…: Heb. good of countenance 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.*1.12 by his…: Heb. which was by the hand of his eunuchs

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?*1.15 What…: Heb. What to do 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.*1.19 If it…: Heb. If it be good with the king*1.19 unto…: Heb. unto her companion*1.19 from him: Heb. from before him*1.19 be not…: Heb. pass not away 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:*1.21 pleased…: Heb. was good in the eyes of the king 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.*1.22 that it…: Heb. that one should publish it according to the language of his people