11 that they should bring Vashti the queen before the king, wearing a royal crown, that they might shew the nations and princes her beauty; Because she was very beautiful.

12 But Vashti the queen would not come, according to the king's command, which had been announced by the eunuchs.

13 And the king was very angry, and his wrath was kindled in him: and the king said to the wise men who knew the former times, for the king's deeds were done before all those who knew the law and the right,

14 And those who were close to him at that time were: Karshenah, Shephar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, Memuchan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who could see the countenance of the king, and were the first in the kingdom:

15 What shall the law be done to Vashti the queen, because she did not do according to the word of king Ahasuerus, which was made known by the eunuchs?

16 And Memuhan said before the king and the princes, 'Vashti the queen is not guilty before the king alone, but before all the princes, and before all the nations, which are in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus;

17 for the queen's deed shall come to all the wives, and they shall despise their husbands, saying, 'King Ahasuerus commanded that Vashti the queen should be brought before him, but she would not go.'

18 Now the princesses of Persia and Media, who hear of the queen's deed, shall say the same thing to all the princes of the king; and neglect and grief will suffice.

19 If it pleases the king, let the king's decree go out from him, and be inscribed in the laws of Persia and Media, and shall not be revoked, that Vashti shall not enter in before king Ahasuerus, but that the king shall give her royal dignity to another who is better than she.

20 And when they hear of this decree of the king, which shall be dispersed throughout all his kingdom, great as it may be, then shall all the wives honour their husbands, from the great to the smallest.

21 And this word was pleasing in the sight of the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memuchan.

22 And he sent letters to all the provinces of the king, written in every province in its writings, and to every people in its language, that every man should be lord in his house, and that it should be declared to each one in his natural language.

2

1 And after this, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus had ceased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what had been decreed of her.