Chapter 1
Xerxes’ Royal Feast
1
This is what happened in the days of Xerxes,… who reigned over 127… provinces from India to Cush.
𐤅𐤉𐤄𐤉 𐤁𐤉𐤌𐤉 𐤀𐤇𐤔𐤅𐤓𐤅𐤔 𐤄𐤅𐤀 𐤀𐤇𐤔𐤅𐤓𐤅𐤔 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤔𐤁𐤏 𐤅𐤏𐤔𐤓𐤉𐤌 𐤅𐤌𐤀𐤄 𐤌𐤃𐤉𐤍𐤄 𐤌𐤄𐤃𐤅 𐤅𐤏𐤃 𐤊𐤅𐤔
וַיְהִ֖י בִּימֵ֣י אֲחַשְׁוֵר֑וֹשׁ ה֣וּא אֲחַשְׁוֵר֗וֹשׁ הַמֹּלֵךְ֙ שֶׁ֛בַע וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים וּמֵאָ֖ה מְדִינָֽה׃ מֵהֹ֣דּוּ וְעַד־ כּ֔וּשׁ way·hî bî·mê ’ă·ḥaš·wê·rō·wōš hū ’ă·ḥaš·wê·rō·wōš ham·mō·lêḵ še·ḇa‘ wə·‘eś·rîm ū·mê·’āh mə·ḏî·nāh mê·hōd·dū wə·‘aḏ- kūš — WLC · 1
2
In those days King Xerxes sat on his royal throne in the citadel of Susa.
𐤄𐤄𐤌 𐤁𐤉𐤌𐤉𐤌 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤀𐤇𐤔𐤅𐤓𐤅𐤔 𐤊𐤔𐤁𐤕 𐤏𐤋 𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤅𐤕𐤅 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤊𐤎𐤀 𐤄𐤁𐤉𐤓𐤄 𐤁𐤔𐤅𐤔𐤍
הָהֵ֑ם בַּיָּמִ֖ים הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֗וֹשׁ כְּשֶׁ֣בֶת׀ עַ֚ל מַלְכוּת֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֖ר כִּסֵּ֣א הַבִּירָֽה׃ בְּשׁוּשַׁ֥ן hā·hêm bay·yā·mîm ham·me·leḵ ’ă·ḥaš·wê·rō·wōš kə·še·ḇeṯ ‘al mal·ḵū·ṯōw ’ă·šer kis·sê hab·bî·rāh bə·šū·šan — WLC · 2
3
In the third year of his reign, [Xerxes] held a feast for all his officials and servants. The military leaders of Persia and Media [were there], along with the nobles and princes of the provinces.
𐤔𐤋𐤅𐤔 𐤁𐤔𐤍𐤕 𐤋𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤅 𐤏𐤔𐤄 𐤌𐤔𐤕𐤄 𐤋𐤊𐤋 𐤔𐤓𐤉𐤅 𐤅𐤏𐤁𐤃𐤉𐤅 𐤇𐤉𐤋 𐤐𐤓𐤎 𐤅𐤌𐤃𐤉 𐤋𐤐𐤍𐤉𐤅 𐤄𐤐𐤓𐤕𐤌𐤉𐤌 𐤅𐤔𐤓𐤉 𐤄𐤌𐤃𐤉𐤍𐤅𐤕
שָׁלוֹשׁ֙ בִּשְׁנַ֤ת לְמָלְכ֔וֹ עָשָׂ֣ה מִשְׁתֶּ֔ה לְכָל־ שָׂרָ֖יו וַעֲבָדָ֑יו חֵ֣יל׀ פָּרַ֣ס וּמָדַ֗י לְפָנָֽיו׃ הַֽפַּרְתְּמִ֛ים וְשָׂרֵ֥י הַמְּדִינ֖וֹת šā·lō·wōš biš·naṯ lə·mā·lə·ḵōw ‘ā·śāh miš·teh lə·ḵāl śā·rāw wa·‘ă·ḇā·ḏāw ḥêl pā·ras ū·mā·ḏay lə·p̄ā·nāw hap·par·tə·mîm wə·śā·rê ham·mə·ḏî·nō·wṯ — WLC · 3
4
And for a full 180… days he displayed the glorious riches of his kingdom and the magnificent splendor of his greatness.
𐤓𐤁𐤉𐤌 𐤔𐤌𐤅𐤍𐤉𐤌 𐤅𐤌𐤀𐤕 𐤉𐤅𐤌 𐤉𐤌𐤉𐤌 𐤁𐤄𐤓𐤀𐤕𐤅 𐤀𐤕 𐤊𐤁𐤅𐤃 𐤏𐤔𐤓 𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤅𐤕𐤅 𐤅𐤀𐤕 𐤕𐤐𐤀𐤓𐤕 𐤉𐤒𐤓 𐤂𐤃𐤅𐤋𐤕𐤅
רַבִּ֔ים שְׁמוֹנִ֥ים וּמְאַ֖ת יֽוֹם׃ יָמִ֣ים בְּהַרְאֹת֗וֹ אֶת־ כְּב֣וֹד עֹ֙שֶׁר֙ מַלְכוּת֔וֹ וְאֶ֨ת־ תִּפְאֶ֖רֶת יְקָ֔ר גְּדוּלָּת֑וֹ rab·bîm šə·mō·w·nîm ū·mə·’aṯ yō·wm yā·mîm bə·har·’ō·ṯōw ’eṯ- kə·ḇō·wḏ ‘ō·šer mal·ḵū·ṯōw wə·’eṯ- tip̄·’e·reṯ yə·qār gə·ḏūl·lā·ṯōw — WLC · 4
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At the end of this time, in the garden court of the royal palace, the king held a seven-day… feast for all the people in the citadel of Susa, from the least to the greatest.
𐤅𐤁𐤌𐤋𐤅𐤀𐤕 𐤄𐤀𐤋𐤄 𐤄𐤉𐤌𐤉𐤌 𐤂𐤍𐤕 𐤁𐤇𐤑𐤓 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤁𐤉𐤕𐤍 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤏𐤔𐤄 𐤔𐤁𐤏𐤕 𐤉𐤌𐤉𐤌 𐤌𐤔𐤕𐤄 𐤋𐤊𐤋 𐤄𐤏𐤌 𐤄𐤍𐤌𐤑𐤀𐤉𐤌 𐤄𐤁𐤉𐤓𐤄 𐤁𐤔𐤅𐤔𐤍 𐤒𐤈𐤍 𐤅𐤏𐤃 𐤋𐤌𐤂𐤃𐤅𐤋
וּבִמְל֣וֹאת׀ הָאֵ֗לֶּה הַיָּמִ֣ים גִּנַּ֥ת בַּחֲצַ֕ר הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ בִּיתַ֖ן הַמֶּ֡לֶךְ עָשָׂ֣ה שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֑ים מִשְׁתֶּ֖ה לְכָל־ הָעָ֣ם הַנִּמְצְאִים֩ הַבִּירָ֜ה בְּשׁוּשַׁ֨ן קָטָ֛ן וְעַד־ לְמִגָּ֧דוֹל ū·ḇim·lō·wṯ hā·’êl·leh hay·yā·mîm gin·naṯ ba·ḥă·ṣar ham·me·leḵ bî·ṯan ham·me·leḵ ‘ā·śāh šiḇ·‘aṯ yā·mîm miš·teh lə·ḵāl hā·‘ām han·nim·ṣə·’îm hab·bî·rāh bə·šū·šan qā·ṭān wə·‘aḏ- lə·mig·gā·ḏō·wl — WLC · 5
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[Hangings of] white and blue linen were fastened with cords of fine white and purple [material] to silver rings on the marble pillars. Gold and silver couches were arranged on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and other costly stones.
𐤇𐤅𐤓 𐤅𐤕𐤊𐤋𐤕 𐤊𐤓𐤐𐤎 𐤀𐤇𐤅𐤆 𐤁𐤇𐤁𐤋𐤉 𐤁𐤅𐤑 𐤅𐤀𐤓𐤂𐤌𐤍 𐤏𐤋 𐤊𐤎𐤐 𐤂𐤋𐤉𐤋𐤉 𐤔𐤔 𐤅𐤏𐤌𐤅𐤃𐤉 𐤆𐤄𐤁 𐤅𐤊𐤎𐤐 𐤌𐤈𐤅𐤕 𐤏𐤋 𐤓𐤑𐤐𐤕 𐤁𐤄𐤈 𐤅𐤔𐤔 𐤅𐤃𐤓 𐤅𐤎𐤇𐤓𐤕
ח֣וּר׀ וּתְכֵ֗לֶת כַּרְפַּ֣ס אָחוּז֙ בְּחַבְלֵי־ ב֣וּץ וְאַרְגָּמָ֔ן עַל־ כֶ֖סֶף גְּלִ֥ילֵי שֵׁ֑שׁ וְעַמּ֣וּדֵי זָהָ֣ב וָכֶ֗סֶף מִטּ֣וֹת׀ עַ֛ל רִֽצְפַ֥ת בַּהַט־ וָשֵׁ֖שׁ וְדַ֥ר וְסֹחָֽרֶת׃ ḥūr ū·ṯə·ḵê·leṯ kar·pas ’ā·ḥūz bə·ḥaḇ·lê- ḇūṣ wə·’ar·gā·mān ‘al- ḵe·sep̄ gə·lî·lê šêš wə·‘am·mū·ḏê zā·hāḇ wā·ḵe·sep̄ miṭ·ṭō·wṯ ‘al riṣ·p̄aṯ ba·haṭ- wā·šêš wə·ḏar wə·sō·ḥā·reṯ — WLC · 6
7
Beverages were served in an array of goblets of gold, each… with a different design, and the royal wine flowed freely, according to the king’s bounty.
𐤅𐤄𐤔𐤒𐤅𐤕 𐤁𐤊𐤋𐤉 𐤆𐤄𐤁 𐤅𐤊𐤋𐤉𐤌 𐤌𐤊𐤋𐤉𐤌 𐤔𐤅𐤍𐤉𐤌 𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤅𐤕 𐤅𐤉𐤉𐤍 𐤓𐤁 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤊𐤉𐤃
וְהַשְׁקוֹת֙ בִּכְלֵ֣י זָהָ֔ב וְכֵלִ֖ים מִכֵּלִ֣ים שׁוֹנִ֑ים מַלְכ֛וּת וְיֵ֥ין רָ֖ב הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ כְּיַ֥ד wə·haš·qō·wṯ biḵ·lê zā·hāḇ wə·ḵê·lîm mik·kê·lîm šō·w·nîm mal·ḵūṯ wə·yên rāḇ ham·me·leḵ kə·yaḏ — WLC · 7
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By order of the king, no limit was placed on the drinking,… and every official of his household was to serve each man whatever he desired.
𐤊𐤃𐤕 𐤉𐤎𐤃 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤀𐤉𐤍 𐤀𐤍𐤎 𐤊𐤉 𐤊𐤍 𐤅𐤄𐤔𐤕𐤉𐤄 𐤏𐤋 𐤊𐤋 𐤓𐤁 𐤁𐤉𐤕𐤅 𐤋𐤏𐤔𐤅𐤕 𐤀𐤉𐤔 𐤅𐤀𐤉𐤔 𐤊𐤓𐤑𐤅𐤍
כַדָּ֖ת יִסַּ֣ד הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ אֵ֣ין אֹנֵ֑ס כִּי־ כֵ֣ן׀ וְהַשְּׁתִיָּ֥ה עַ֚ל כָּל־ רַ֣ב בֵּית֔וֹ לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת אִישׁ־ וָאִֽישׁ׃ כִּרְצ֥וֹן ḵad·dāṯ yis·saḏ ham·me·leḵ ’ên ’ō·nês kî- ḵên wə·haš·šə·ṯî·yāh ‘al kāl- raḇ bê·ṯōw la·‘ă·śō·wṯ ’îš- wā·’îš kir·ṣō·wn — WLC · 8
Queen Vashti’s Refusal
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Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.
𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤄 𐤅𐤔𐤕𐤉 𐤂𐤌 𐤏𐤔𐤕𐤄 𐤌𐤔𐤕𐤄 𐤍𐤔𐤉𐤌 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤅𐤕 𐤁𐤉𐤕 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤋𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤀𐤇𐤔𐤅𐤓𐤅𐤔𐤎
הַמַּלְכָּ֔ה וַשְׁתִּ֣י גַּ֚ם עָשְׂתָ֖ה מִשְׁתֵּ֣ה נָשִׁ֑ים הַמַּלְכ֔וּת בֵּ֚ית אֲשֶׁ֖ר לַמֶּ֥לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרֽוֹשׁ׃ס ham·mal·kāh waš·tî gam ‘ā·śə·ṯāh miš·têh nā·šîm ham·mal·ḵūṯ bêṯ ’ă·šer lam·me·leḵ ’ă·ḥaš·wê·rō·wōš — WLC · 9
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On the seventh day, when the king’s heart was merry with wine, he ordered the seven eunuchs who served… him— Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas—
𐤄𐤔𐤁𐤉𐤏𐤉 𐤁𐤉𐤅𐤌 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤋𐤁 𐤊𐤈𐤅𐤁 𐤁𐤉𐤉𐤍 𐤀𐤌𐤓 𐤔𐤁𐤏𐤕 𐤄𐤎𐤓𐤉𐤎𐤉𐤌 𐤄𐤌𐤔𐤓𐤕𐤉𐤌 𐤀𐤕 𐤐𐤍𐤉 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤀𐤇𐤔𐤅𐤓𐤅𐤔 𐤋𐤌𐤄𐤅𐤌𐤍 𐤁𐤆𐤕𐤀 𐤇𐤓𐤁𐤅𐤍𐤀 𐤁𐤂𐤕𐤀 𐤅𐤀𐤁𐤂𐤕𐤀 𐤆𐤕𐤓 𐤅𐤊𐤓𐤊𐤎
הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י בַּיּוֹם֙ הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ לֵב־ כְּט֥וֹב בַּיָּ֑יִן אָמַ֡ר שִׁבְעַת֙ הַסָּ֣רִיסִ֔ים הַמְשָׁ֣רְתִ֔ים אֶת־ פְּנֵ֖י הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרֽוֹשׁ׃ לִ֠מְהוּמָן בִּזְּתָ֨א חַרְבוֹנָ֜א בִּגְתָ֤א וַאֲבַגְתָא֙ זֵתַ֣ר וְכַרְכַּ֔ס haš·šə·ḇî·‘î bay·yō·wm ham·me·leḵ lêḇ- kə·ṭō·wḇ bay·yā·yin ’ā·mar šiḇ·‘aṯ has·sā·rî·sîm ham·šā·rə·ṯîm ’eṯ- pə·nê ham·me·leḵ ’ă·ḥaš·wê·rō·wōš lim·hū·mān biz·zə·ṯā ḥar·ḇō·w·nā biḡ·ṯā wa·’ă·ḇaḡ·ṯā zê·ṯar wə·ḵar·kas — WLC · 10
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to bring Queen Vashti before him, [wearing] her royal crown, to display her beauty to the people and officials. For she [was] beautiful to behold.
𐤋𐤄𐤁𐤉𐤀 𐤀𐤕 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤄 𐤅𐤔𐤕𐤉 𐤋𐤐𐤍𐤉 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤅𐤕 𐤁𐤊𐤕𐤓 𐤋𐤄𐤓𐤀𐤅𐤕 𐤉𐤐𐤉𐤄 𐤄𐤏𐤌𐤉𐤌 𐤅𐤄𐤔𐤓𐤉𐤌 𐤀𐤕 𐤊𐤉 𐤄𐤉𐤀 𐤈𐤅𐤁𐤕 𐤌𐤓𐤀𐤄
לְ֠הָבִיא אֶת־ הַמַּלְכָּ֛ה וַשְׁתִּ֧י לִפְנֵ֥י הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ מַלְכ֑וּת בְּכֶ֣תֶר לְהַרְא֨וֹת יָפְיָ֔הּ הָֽעַמִּ֤ים וְהַשָּׂרִים֙ אֶת־ כִּֽי־ הִֽיא׃ טוֹבַ֥ת מַרְאֶ֖ה lə·hā·ḇî ’eṯ- ham·mal·kāh waš·tî lip̄·nê ham·me·leḵ mal·ḵūṯ bə·ḵe·ṯer lə·har·’ō·wṯ yā·p̄ə·yāh hā·‘am·mîm wə·haś·śā·rîm ’eṯ- kî- hî ṭō·w·ḇaṯ mar·’eh — WLC · 11
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Queen Vashti, however, refused to come at the king’s command [brought] by [his] eunuchs. And the king became furious…, and his anger burned within him.
𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤄 𐤅𐤔𐤕𐤉 𐤅𐤕𐤌𐤀𐤍 𐤋𐤁𐤅𐤀 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤁𐤃𐤁𐤓 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤁𐤉𐤃 𐤄𐤎𐤓𐤉𐤎𐤉𐤌 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤅𐤉𐤒𐤑𐤐 𐤌𐤀𐤃 𐤅𐤇𐤌𐤕𐤅 𐤁𐤏𐤓𐤄 𐤁𐤅
הַמַּלְכָּ֣ה וַשְׁתִּ֗י וַתְּמָאֵ֞ן לָבוֹא֙ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ בִּדְבַ֣ר אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּיַ֣ד הַסָּרִיסִ֑ים הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ וַיִּקְצֹ֤ף מְאֹ֔ד וַחֲמָת֖וֹ בָּעֲרָ֥ה בֽוֹ׃ ham·mal·kāh waš·tî wat·tə·mā·’ên lā·ḇō·w ham·me·leḵ biḏ·ḇar ’ă·šer bə·yaḏ has·sā·rî·sîm ham·me·leḵ way·yiq·ṣōp̄ mə·’ōḏ wa·ḥă·mā·ṯōw bā·‘ă·rāh ḇōw — WLC · 12
Queen Vashti Deposed
13
Then the king consulted the wise men who knew the times, for it was customary for him to confer with… the experts in law and justice.
𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤅𐤉𐤀𐤌𐤓 𐤋𐤇𐤊𐤌𐤉𐤌 𐤉𐤃𐤏𐤉 𐤄𐤏𐤕𐤉𐤌 𐤊𐤉 𐤊𐤍 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤃𐤁𐤓 𐤋𐤐𐤍𐤉 𐤊𐤋 𐤉𐤃𐤏𐤉 𐤃𐤕 𐤅𐤃𐤉𐤍
הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לַחֲכָמִ֖ים יֹדְעֵ֣י הָֽעִתִּ֑ים כִּי־ כֵן֙ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ דְּבַ֣ר לִפְנֵ֕י כָּל־ יֹדְעֵ֖י דָּ֥ת וָדִֽין׃ ham·me·leḵ way·yō·mer la·ḥă·ḵā·mîm yō·ḏə·‘ê hā·‘it·tîm kî- ḵên ham·me·leḵ də·ḇar lip̄·nê kāl- yō·ḏə·‘ê dāṯ wā·ḏîn — WLC · 13
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His closest advisors [were] Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media who had personal access to… the king [and] ranked highest in the kingdom.
𐤅𐤄𐤒𐤓𐤁 𐤀𐤋𐤉𐤅 𐤊𐤓𐤔𐤍𐤀 𐤔𐤕𐤓 𐤀𐤃𐤌𐤕𐤀 𐤕𐤓𐤔𐤉𐤔 𐤌𐤓𐤎 𐤌𐤓𐤎𐤍𐤀 𐤌𐤌𐤅𐤊𐤍 𐤔𐤁𐤏𐤕 𐤔𐤓𐤉 𐤐𐤓𐤎 𐤅𐤌𐤃𐤉 𐤓𐤀𐤉 𐤐𐤍𐤉 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤄𐤉𐤔𐤁𐤉𐤌 𐤓𐤀𐤔𐤍𐤄 𐤁𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤅𐤕
וְהַקָּרֹ֣ב אֵלָ֗יו כַּרְשְׁנָ֤א שֵׁתָר֙ אַדְמָ֣תָא תַרְשִׁ֔ישׁ מֶ֥רֶס מַרְסְנָ֖א מְמוּכָ֑ן שִׁבְעַ֞ת שָׂרֵ֣י׀ פָּרַ֣ס וּמָדַ֗י רֹאֵי֙ פְּנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ הַיֹּשְׁבִ֥ים רִאשֹׁנָ֖ה בַּמַּלְכֽוּת׃ wə·haq·qā·rōḇ ʾē·lå̄w kar·šə·nā šê·ṯār ’aḏ·mā·ṯā ṯar·šîš me·res mar·sə·nā mə·mū·ḵān šiḇ·‘aṯ śā·rê pā·ras ū·mā·ḏay rō·’ê pə·nê ham·me·leḵ hay·yō·šə·ḇîm ri·šō·nāh bam·mal·ḵūṯ — WLC · 14
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“According to law,” he asked, “what should be done with Queen Vashti, since she refused to obey… the command of King Xerxes delivered by the eunuchs?”
𐤊𐤃𐤕 𐤌𐤄 𐤋𐤏𐤔𐤅𐤕 𐤁𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤄 𐤅𐤔𐤕𐤉 𐤏𐤋 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤋𐤀 𐤏𐤔𐤕𐤄 𐤀𐤕 𐤌𐤀𐤌𐤓 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤀𐤇𐤔𐤅𐤓𐤅𐤔 𐤁𐤉𐤃 𐤄𐤎𐤓𐤉𐤎𐤉𐤌𐤎
כְּדָת֙ מַֽה־ לַּעֲשׂ֔וֹת בַּמַּלְכָּ֖ה וַשְׁתִּ֑י עַ֣ל׀ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־ עָשְׂתָ֗ה אֶֽת־ מַאֲמַר֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ בְּיַ֖ד הַסָּרִיסִֽים׃ס kə·ḏāṯ mah- la·‘ă·śō·wṯ bam·mal·kāh waš·tî ‘al ’ă·šer lō- ‘ā·śə·ṯāh ’eṯ- ma·’ă·mar ham·me·leḵ ’ă·ḥaš·wê·rō·wōš bə·yaḏ has·sā·rî·sîm — WLC · 15
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And in the presence of the king and his princes, Memucan replied, “Queen Vashti has wronged not… only the king, but… all the princes… and the peoples - in all the provinces of King Xerxes.
𐤋𐤐𐤍𐤉 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤅𐤄𐤔𐤓𐤉𐤌 𐤌𐤅𐤌𐤊𐤍 𐤅𐤉𐤀𐤌𐤓 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤄 𐤅𐤔𐤕𐤉 𐤏𐤅𐤕𐤄 𐤋𐤀 𐤏𐤋 𐤋𐤁𐤃𐤅 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤊𐤉 𐤏𐤋 𐤊𐤋 𐤄𐤔𐤓𐤉𐤌 𐤅𐤏𐤋 𐤄𐤏𐤌𐤉𐤌 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤁𐤊𐤋 𐤊𐤋 𐤌𐤃𐤉𐤍𐤅𐤕 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤀𐤇𐤔𐤅𐤓𐤅𐤔
לִפְנֵ֤י הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ וְהַשָּׂרִ֔ים מוּמְכָן וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַמַּלְכָּ֑ה וַשְׁתִּ֣י עָוְתָ֖ה לֹ֤א עַל־ לְבַדּ֔וֹ הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ כִּ֤י עַל־ כָּל־ הַשָּׂרִים֙ וְעַל־ הָ֣עַמִּ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֕ר בְּכָל־ כָּל־ מְדִינ֖וֹת הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרֽוֹשׁ׃ lip̄·nê ham·me·leḵ wə·haś·śā·rîm mū·mə·ḵå̄n way·yō·mer ham·mal·kāh waš·tî ‘ā·wə·ṯāh lō ‘al- lə·ḇad·dōw ham·me·leḵ kî ‘al- kāl- haś·śā·rîm wə·‘al- hā·‘am·mîm ’ă·šer bə·ḵāl kāl- mə·ḏî·nō·wṯ ham·me·leḵ ’ă·ḥaš·wê·rō·wōš — WLC · 16
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For the conduct of the queen will become known to all women, causing them to despise… their husbands and say, ‘King Xerxes ordered Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she did not come.’
𐤊𐤉 𐤃𐤁𐤓 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤄 𐤉𐤑𐤀 𐤏𐤋 𐤊𐤋 𐤄𐤍𐤔𐤉𐤌 𐤋𐤄𐤁𐤆𐤅𐤕 𐤁𐤏𐤉𐤍𐤉𐤄𐤍 𐤁𐤏𐤋𐤉𐤄𐤍 𐤁𐤀𐤌𐤓𐤌 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤀𐤇𐤔𐤅𐤓𐤅𐤔 𐤀𐤌𐤓 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤄 𐤅𐤔𐤕𐤉 𐤋𐤄𐤁𐤉𐤀 𐤀𐤕 𐤋𐤐𐤍𐤉𐤅 𐤅𐤋𐤀 𐤁𐤀𐤄
כִּֽי־ דְבַר־ הַמַּלְכָּה֙ יֵצֵ֤א עַל־ כָּל־ הַנָּשִׁ֔ים לְהַבְז֥וֹת בְּעֵינֵיהֶ֑ן בַּעְלֵיהֶ֖ן בְּאָמְרָ֗ם הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֡וֹשׁ אָמַ֞ר הַמַּלְכָּ֛ה וַשְׁתִּ֧י לְהָבִ֨יא אֶת־ לְפָנָ֖יו וְלֹא־ בָֽאָה׃ kî- ḏə·ḇar- ham·mal·kāh yê·ṣê ‘al- kāl- han·nā·šîm lə·haḇ·zō·wṯ bə·‘ê·nê·hen ba‘·lê·hen bə·’ā·mə·rām ham·me·leḵ ’ă·ḥaš·wê·rō·wōš ’ā·mar ham·mal·kāh waš·tî lə·hā·ḇî ’eṯ- lə·p̄ā·nāw wə·lō- ḇā·’āh — WLC · 17
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This very day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard about the queen’s conduct will say the same thing to all the king’s officials, resulting in much contempt and wrath.
𐤄𐤆𐤄 𐤅𐤄𐤉𐤅𐤌 𐤔𐤓𐤅𐤕 𐤐𐤓𐤎 𐤅𐤌𐤃𐤉 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤔𐤌𐤏𐤅 𐤀𐤕 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤄 𐤃𐤁𐤓 𐤕𐤀𐤌𐤓𐤍𐤄 𐤋𐤊𐤋 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤔𐤓𐤉 𐤅𐤊𐤃𐤉 𐤁𐤆𐤉𐤅𐤍 𐤅𐤒𐤑𐤐
הַזֶּ֜ה וְֽהַיּ֨וֹם שָׂר֣וֹת פָּֽרַס־ וּמָדַ֗י אֲשֶׁ֤ר שָֽׁמְעוּ֙ אֶת־ הַמַּלְכָּ֔ה דְּבַ֣ר תֹּאמַ֣רְנָה׀ לְכֹ֖ל הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ שָׂרֵ֣י וּכְדַ֖י בִּזָּי֥וֹן וָקָֽצֶף׃ haz·zeh wə·hay·yō·wm śā·rō·wṯ pā·ras- ū·mā·ḏay ’ă·šer šā·mə·‘ū ’eṯ- ham·mal·kāh də·ḇar tō·mar·nāh lə·ḵōl ham·me·leḵ śā·rê ū·ḵə·ḏay biz·zā·yō·wn wā·qā·ṣep̄ — WLC · 18
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So if… it pleases the king…, let him issue a royal decree, and let it be recorded in the laws of Persia and Media so that it cannot be repealed, that Vashti shall never again enter the presence of King Xerxes, and that her royal position shall be given… to a woman better than she.
𐤀𐤌 𐤏𐤋 𐤈𐤅𐤁 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤌𐤋𐤐𐤍𐤉𐤅 𐤉𐤑𐤀 𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤅𐤕 𐤃𐤁𐤓 𐤅𐤉𐤊𐤕𐤁 𐤁𐤃𐤕𐤉 𐤐𐤓𐤎 𐤅𐤌𐤃𐤉 𐤅𐤋𐤀 𐤉𐤏𐤁𐤅𐤓 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤅𐤔𐤕𐤉 𐤋𐤀 𐤕𐤁𐤅𐤀 𐤋𐤐𐤍𐤉 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤀𐤇𐤔𐤅𐤓𐤅𐤔 𐤅𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤅𐤕𐤄 𐤉𐤕𐤍 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤋𐤓𐤏𐤅𐤕𐤄 𐤄𐤈𐤅𐤁𐤄 𐤌𐤌𐤍𐤄
אִם־ עַל־ ט֗וֹב הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ מִלְּפָנָ֔יו יֵצֵ֤א מַלְכוּת֙ דְבַר־ וְיִכָּתֵ֛ב בְּדָתֵ֥י פָֽרַס־ וּמָדַ֖י וְלֹ֣א יַעֲב֑וֹר אֲשֶׁ֨ר וַשְׁתִּ֗י לֹֽא־ תָב֜וֹא לִפְנֵי֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ וּמַלְכוּתָהּ֙ יִתֵּ֣ן הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לִרְעוּתָ֖הּ הַטּוֹבָ֥ה מִמֶּֽנָּה׃ ’im- ‘al- ṭō·wḇ ham·me·leḵ mil·lə·p̄ā·nāw yê·ṣê mal·ḵūṯ ḏə·ḇar- wə·yik·kā·ṯêḇ bə·ḏā·ṯê p̄ā·ras- ū·mā·ḏay wə·lō ya·‘ă·ḇō·wr ’ă·šer waš·tî lō- ṯā·ḇō·w lip̄·nê ham·me·leḵ ’ă·ḥaš·wê·rō·wōš ū·mal·ḵū·ṯāh yit·tên ham·me·leḵ lir·‘ū·ṯāh haṭ·ṭō·w·ḇāh mim·men·nāh — WLC · 19
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The edict the king issues will be heard throughout his vast… kingdom— and so all women, from the least to the greatest, will honor… their husbands.”
𐤐𐤕𐤂𐤌 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤉𐤏𐤔𐤄 𐤅𐤍𐤔𐤌𐤏 𐤁𐤊𐤋 𐤓𐤁𐤄 𐤄𐤉𐤀 𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤅𐤕𐤅 𐤊𐤉 𐤅𐤊𐤋 𐤄𐤍𐤔𐤉𐤌 𐤒𐤈𐤍 𐤅𐤏𐤃 𐤋𐤌𐤂𐤃𐤅𐤋 𐤉𐤕𐤍𐤅 𐤉𐤒𐤓 𐤋𐤁𐤏𐤋𐤉𐤄𐤍
פִּתְגָ֨ם הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ אֲשֶֽׁר־ יַעֲשֶׂה֙ וְנִשְׁמַע֩ בְּכָל־ רַבָּ֖ה הִ֑יא מַלְכוּת֔וֹ כִּ֥י וְכָל־ הַנָּשִׁ֗ים קָטָֽן׃ וְעַד־ לְמִגָּד֖וֹל יִתְּנ֤וּ יְקָר֙ לְבַעְלֵיהֶ֔ן piṯ·ḡām ham·me·leḵ ’ă·šer- ya·‘ă·śeh wə·niš·ma‘ bə·ḵāl rab·bāh hî mal·ḵū·ṯōw kî wə·ḵāl han·nā·šîm qā·ṭān wə·‘aḏ- lə·mig·gā·ḏō·wl yit·tə·nū yə·qār lə·ḇa‘·lê·hen — WLC · 20
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The king and his princes were pleased… with this counsel; so the king did as Memucan advised.
𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤅𐤄𐤔𐤓𐤉𐤌 𐤅𐤉𐤉𐤈𐤁 𐤁𐤏𐤉𐤍𐤉 𐤄𐤃𐤁𐤓 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤅𐤉𐤏𐤔 𐤌𐤌𐤅𐤊𐤍 𐤊𐤃𐤁𐤓
הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וְהַשָּׂרִ֑ים וַיִּיטַב֙ בְּעֵינֵ֥י הַדָּבָ֔ר הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וַיַּ֥עַשׂ מְמוּכָֽן׃ כִּדְבַ֥ר ham·me·leḵ wə·haś·śā·rîm way·yî·ṭaḇ bə·‘ê·nê had·dā·ḇār ham·me·leḵ way·ya·‘aś mə·mū·ḵān kiḏ·ḇar — WLC · 21
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He sent letters to all the provinces of the kingdom, to each province… in its own script and to each people… in their own language, proclaiming - that every man should be master of his own household.
𐤅𐤉𐤔𐤋𐤇 𐤎𐤐𐤓𐤉𐤌 𐤀𐤋 𐤊𐤋 𐤌𐤃𐤉𐤍𐤅𐤕 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤀𐤋 𐤌𐤃𐤉𐤍𐤄 𐤅𐤌𐤃𐤉𐤍𐤄 𐤊𐤊𐤕𐤁𐤄 𐤅𐤀𐤋 𐤏𐤌 𐤅𐤏𐤌 𐤊𐤋𐤔𐤅𐤍𐤅 𐤅𐤌𐤃𐤁𐤓 𐤊𐤋𐤔𐤅𐤍 𐤏𐤌𐤅𐤐 𐤊𐤋 𐤀𐤉𐤔 𐤋𐤄𐤉𐤅𐤕 𐤔𐤓𐤓 𐤁𐤁𐤉𐤕𐤅
וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח סְפָרִים֙ אֶל־ כָּל־ מְדִינ֣וֹת הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֶל־ מְדִינָ֤ה וּמְדִינָה֙ כִּכְתָבָ֔הּ וְאֶל־ עַ֥ם וָעָ֖ם כִּלְשׁוֹנ֑וֹ וּמְדַבֵּ֖ר כִּלְשׁ֥וֹן עַמּֽוֹ׃פ כָּל־ אִישׁ֙ לִהְי֤וֹת שֹׂרֵ֣ר בְּבֵית֔וֹ way·yiš·laḥ sə·p̄ā·rîm ’el- kāl- mə·ḏî·nō·wṯ ham·me·leḵ ’el- mə·ḏî·nāh ū·mə·ḏî·nāh kiḵ·ṯā·ḇāh wə·’el- ‘am wā·‘ām kil·šō·w·nōw ū·mə·ḏab·bêr kil·šō·wn ‘am·mōw kāl- ’îš lih·yō·wṯ śō·rêr bə·ḇê·ṯōw — WLC · 22