Esther Chapter 1
So, like, back in the day of King Ahasuerus, who ruled from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces, it was a whole vibe.
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:)
While King Ahasuerus was chillin' on his throne in Shushan, things were kinda lit.
{That} in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which {was} in Shushan the palace,
In the third year of his reign, he threw a massive feast for all his homies and servants; the power players of Persia were all there.
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:
He flexed the wealth of his kingdom and the glory of his majesty for a solid 180 days—total show-off move.
When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, {even} an hundred and fourscore days.
After that, he hosted another feast for everyone in Shushan, from the VIPs to the regulars, for seven days in the garden court.
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; {present: Heb. found}
The spot was decked out with white, green, and blue hangings, all fancy with fine linen and purple, attached to silver rings and marble pillars. The beds were straight-up gold and silver on a sick marble floor.
{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. {blue, hangings: or, violet, etc} {of red...: or, of porphyre, and marble and alabaster, and stone of blue colour}
They served drinks in gold cups, each one unique, and the royal wine was flowing like crazy, no cap.
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. {royal...: Heb. wine of the kingdom} {state: Heb. hand}
The drinking was chill; nobody was forced to do anything, just as the king wanted—everyone could vibe however they liked.
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.
Meanwhile, Queen Vashti threw her own feast for the ladies in the royal crib, keeping it classy.
Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women {in} the royal house which {belonged} to king Ahasuerus.
On the seventh day, when the king was feeling good from the wine, he called his seven homies who served him to bring Vashti in.
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, {chamberlains: or, eunuchs}
He wanted her to show off her beauty with the royal crown, ‘cause she was straight-up stunning.
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. {fair...: Heb. good of countenance}
But Queen Vashti was like, 'Nah,' and didn’t come when the king called; this made him super mad, no cap.
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. {by his...: Heb. which was by the hand of his eunuchs}
The king turned to his wise guys who knew the deal, asking for advice on what to do next.
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:
His main crew, including Carshena and others, were the top princes of Persia and Media who always had his back.
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;)
He asked, 'What’s the move with Queen Vashti? She didn’t follow my order.'
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? {What...: Heb. What to do}
Memucan spoke up, saying Vashti didn’t just disrespect the king, but all the princes and people in the provinces too.
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.
This whole situation could make all the women look at their husbands sideways, since the queen straight-up ignored the king’s command.
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.
The ladies of Persia and Media might tell all the princes about this, causing major drama and disrespect.
{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.
If it pleases the king, let’s drop a royal decree that Vashti can’t come back to the king, and let’s find someone better for the job.
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. {If it...: Heb. If it be good with the king} {unto...: Heb. unto her companion} {from him: Heb. from before him} {be not...: Heb. pass not away}
Once the king’s decree goes out across the empire (which is huge), all the wives will honor their husbands, no matter who they are.
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.
The king and his crew were all about it; he followed Memucan’s advice.
And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan: {pleased...: Heb. was good in the eyes of the king}
He sent letters to all the provinces, making sure everyone got the memo in their own language, saying every man should run his house.
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. {that it...: Heb. that one should publish it according to the language of his people}