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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0; maximum-scale=1.0; user-scalable=0;"/><title>Esther 1 NIV ESV Parallel</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newp.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; 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The military leaders of Persia and Media, the princes, and the nobles of the provinces were present.<td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span><span class="btext2">in the third year of his reign he gave a feast for all his officials and servants. The army of Persia and Media and the nobles and governors of the provinces were before him,</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span><span class="btext1">For a full 180 days he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty.<td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span><span class="btext2">while he showed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor and pomp of his greatness for many days, 180 days.</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span><span class="btext1">When these days were over, the king gave a banquet, lasting seven days, in the enclosed garden of the king's palace, for all the people from the least to the greatest who were in the citadel of Susa.<td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span><span class="btext2">And when these days were completed, the king gave for all the people present in Susa the citadel, both great and small, a feast lasting for seven days in the court of the garden of the king’s palace.</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span><span class="btext1">The garden had hangings of white and blue linen, fastened with cords of white linen and purple material to silver rings on marble pillars. There were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and other costly stones.<td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span><span class="btext2">There were white cotton curtains and violet hangings fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rods and marble pillars, and also couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and precious stones.</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span><span class="btext1">Wine was served in goblets of gold, each one different from the other, and the royal wine was abundant, in keeping with the king's liberality.<td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span><span class="btext2">Drinks were served in golden vessels, vessels of different kinds, and the royal wine was lavished according to the bounty of the king.</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span><span class="btext1">By the king's command each guest was allowed to drink with no restrictions, for the king instructed all the wine stewards to serve each man what he wished.<td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span><span class="btext2">And drinking was according to this edict: “There is no compulsion.” For the king had given orders to all the staff of his palace to do as each man desired.</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span><span class="btext1">Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.<td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span><span class="btext2">Queen Vashti also gave a feast for the women in the palace that belonged to King Ahasuerus.</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span><span class="btext1">On the seventh day, when King Xerxes was in high spirits from wine, he commanded the seven eunuchs who served him--Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Karkas--<td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span><span class="btext2">On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha and Abagtha, Zethar and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus,</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span><span class="btext1">to bring before him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, in order to display her beauty to the people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at.<td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span><span class="btext2">to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her royal crown, in order to show the peoples and the princes her beauty, for she was lovely to look at.</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span><span class="btext1">But when the attendants delivered the king's command, Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the king became furious and burned with anger.<td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span><span class="btext2">But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command delivered by the eunuchs. At this the king became enraged, and his anger burned within him.</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span><span class="btext1">Since it was customary for the king to consult experts in matters of law and justice, he spoke with the wise men who understood the times<td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span><span class="btext2">Then the king said to the wise men who knew the times (for this was the king’s procedure toward all who were versed in law and judgment,</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span><span class="btext1">and were closest to the king--Karshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memukan, the seven nobles of Persia and Media who had special access to the king and were highest in the kingdom.<td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span><span class="btext2">the men next to him being Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king’s face, and sat first in the kingdom):</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span><span class="btext1">"According to law, what must be done to Queen Vashti?" he asked. "She has not obeyed the command of King Xerxes that the eunuchs have taken to her."<td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span><span class="btext2">“According to the law, what is to be done to Queen Vashti, because she has not performed the command of King Ahasuerus delivered by the eunuchs?”</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span><span class="btext1">Then Memukan replied in the presence of the king and the nobles, "Queen Vashti has done wrong, not only against the king but also against all the nobles and the peoples of all the provinces of King Xerxes.<td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span><span class="btext2">Then Memucan said in the presence of the king and the officials, “Not only against the king has Queen Vashti done wrong, but also against all the officials and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span><span class="btext1">For the queen's conduct will become known to all the women, and so they will despise their husbands and say, 'King Xerxes commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she would not come.'<td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span><span class="btext2">For the queen’s behavior will be made known to all women, causing them to look at their husbands with contempt, since they will say, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, and she did not come.’</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span><span class="btext1">This very day the Persian and Median women of the nobility who have heard about the queen's conduct will respond to all the king's nobles in the same way. There will be no end of disrespect and discord.<td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span><span class="btext2">This very day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s behavior will say the same to all the king’s officials, and there will be contempt and wrath in plenty.</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span><span class="btext1">"Therefore, if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be repealed, that Vashti is never again to enter the presence of King Xerxes. Also let the king give her royal position to someone else who is better than she.<td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span><span class="btext2">If it please the king, let a royal order go out from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes so that it may not be repealed, that Vashti is never again to come before King Ahasuerus. And let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she.</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span><span class="btext1">Then when the king's edict is proclaimed throughout all his vast realm, all the women will respect their husbands, from the least to the greatest."<td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span><span class="btext2">So when the decree made by the king is proclaimed throughout all his kingdom, for it is vast, all women will give honor to their husbands, high and low alike.”</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span><span class="btext1">The king and his nobles were pleased with this advice, so the king did as Memukan proposed.<td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span><span class="btext2">This advice pleased the king and the princes, and the king did as Memucan proposed.</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span><span class="btext1">He sent dispatches to all parts of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language, proclaiming that every man should be ruler over his own household, using his native tongue.<td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/1-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span><span class="btext2">He sent letters to all the royal provinces, to every province in its own script and to every people in its own language, that every man be master in his own household and speak according to the language of his people.</span></td></tr></table><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td class="copy" width="50%"><a href="//niv.scripturetext.com/version.htm">New International Version</a> (NIV)</p><p class="ntext2">Holy Bible, New International Version&reg, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by <a href="//biblica.com">Biblica, Inc.</a>® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.</td><td class="copy" width="50%">ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by <a href="//www.crossway.org/home/esv/">Crossway Bibles</a>, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. 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