Esther 1:3–12

3 In the third year of his reign, he hmade a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the inobles 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 kthe garden of the king’s palace; 6 Where were white, green, and ||blue, hangings, fastened with cords of lfine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: mthe beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement ||of red, and blue, and white, and black, marble. 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. 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 nthe heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, oHarbona, pBigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven ||chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, 11 To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the qcrown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was †fair to look on. 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.