Esther 1:12–21

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. 13 Then the king said to the rwise men, swhich 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 tMemucan, the useven princes of Persia and Media, xwhich 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? 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 yMedes, †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. 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 zgive to their husbands honour, aboth to great and small. 21 And the saying †pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan: