Esther 2:1–4

¹⁴Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.

¹⁵Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.

¹⁶Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.

¹⁷And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.

¹⁸¶ Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.

¹⁴Then the king, when hee heard these wordes, was sore displeased with himselfe, and set his heart on Daniel to deliuer him: and he laboured till the going downe of the sunne, to deliuer him.

¹⁵Then these men assembled vnto the king, and said vnto the king, Know O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, that no decree nor statute which the king establisheth, may bee changed.

¹⁶Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the denne of Lions: now the king spake and saide vnto Daniel; Thy God, whom thou seruest continually, he will deliuer thee.

¹⁷And a stone was brought and laid vpon the mouth of the denne, and the King sealed it with his owne signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.

¹⁸¶ ^‖Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musicke brought before him, and his sleepe went from him.

¹⁰So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king’s wrath pacified.

¹⁰So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the Kings wrath pacified.

¹²But 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 wise men, which knew the times, (for so was the king’s manner toward all that knew law and judgment:

¹⁴And 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;)

¹⁵What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?

¹⁶And 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.

¹⁷For 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.

¹⁸Likewise 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.

¹⁹If 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.

²⁰And 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.

²¹And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan:

¹²But the Queene Uasthi refused to come at the Kings commandement ^†by his chamberlens: therefore was the King very wroth, and his anger burned in him.

¹³¶ Then the king saide to the wise men, which knew the times (for so was the Kings maner towards all that knew law, and iudgement:

¹⁴And the next vnto him, was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshis, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seuen ^*Princes of Persia, and Media, which saw the Kings face, and which sate the first in the kingdome.)

^15†What shall wee doe vnto the Queene Uasthi, according to law, because she hath not performed the commandement of the king Ahasuerus, by the chamberlens?

¹⁶And Memucan answered before the king and the Princes; Uasthi the Queene hath not done wrong to the king onely, but also to all the Princes, and to all the people that are in all the prouinces of the king Ahasuerus.

¹⁷For this deed of the queene shall come abroad vnto all women, so that they shal despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall bee reported; The king Ahasuerus commanded Uasthi the queene to be brought in before him, but she came not.

¹⁸ Likewise shall the Ladies of Persia and Media say this day vnto all the kings princes, which haue heard of the deed of the Queene. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath.

^19†If it please the king, let there go a royall commandement ^†from him, and let it bee written among the lawes of the Persians, and the Medes, ^†that it be not altered, that Uasthi come no more before king Ahasuerus, and let the king giue her royall estate ^†vnto another that is better then she.

²⁰And when the kings decree, which he shal make, shalbe published throughout all his empire, (for it is great:) all the wiues shall giue to their husbands honour, both to great and small.

²¹And the saying ^†pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan:

²Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand before the king, and let her cherish him, and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king may get heat.

²Wherefore his seruants said vnto him, ^†Let there be sought for my lord the king ^†a yong virgin, and let her stand before the King, and let her ^†cherish him, and let her lie in thy bosome, that my lord the King may get heate.

¹⁴And while they were yet talking with him, came the king’s chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared.

¹⁴And while they were yet talking with him, came the kings chamberlens, and hasted to bring Haman vnto the banquet that Esther had prepared.

¹⁴¶ And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.

¹⁴¶ And it came to passe, that when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman, that shee was very faire.

¹⁰¶ 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,

¹⁰¶ On the seuenth day, when the heart of the King was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seuen ^‖chamberlens that serued in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,

¹⁴And 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;)

¹⁴And the next vnto him, was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshis, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seuen ^*Princes of Persia, and Media, which saw the Kings face, and which sate the first in the kingdome.)

¹NOW 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:)

²That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,

¹¶ Now it came to passe in the dayes of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned from India, euen vnto Ethiopia, ouer an hundred, and seuen and twentie prouinces.)

² That in those dayes, when the King Ahasuerus sate on the throne of his kingdome, which was in Shushan the palace:

¹²¶ Now when every maid’s turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;)

¹³Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king’s house.

¹⁴In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name.

¹⁵¶ Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king’s chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.

¹²¶ Now when euery maids turne was come, to goe in to King Ahasnerus, after that shee had bene twelue moneths, according to the maner of the women (for so were the dayes of their purifications accomplished, to wit, sixe moneths with oile of myrrhe, and sixe moneths with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women.)

¹³Then thus came euery maiden vnto the king, whatsoeuer she desired, was giuen her, to goe with her out of the house of the women, vnto the kings house.

¹⁴In the euening she went, and on the morrowe she returned into the second house of the women, to the custodie of Shaashgaz the kings chamberlen, which kept the concubines: shee came in vnto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that shee were called by name.

¹⁵¶ Now when the turne of Esther, the daughter of Abihail, the vncle of Mordecai (who had taken her for his daughter) was come, to goe in vnto the king: she required nothing, but what Hegai the kings chamberlen the keeper of the women, appointed: And Esther obtained fauour in the sight of all them that looked vpon her.

⁸¶ So it came to pass, when the king’s commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king’s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.

⁹And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king’s house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women.

⁸¶ So it came to passe, when the kings commandement and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together vnto Shushan the palace, to the custodie of Hegai, that Esther was brought also vnto the kings house, to the custodie of Hegai, keeper of the women.

⁹And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindnesse of him, and hee speedily gaue her her things for purification, with ^†such things as belonged to her, and seuen maidens, which were meet to be giuen her, out of the Kings house, and ^†hee preferred her and her maids, vnto the best place of the house of the women.

¹⁸In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon,

¹⁹The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers,

²⁰The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings,

²¹The rings, and nose jewels,

²²The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins,

²³The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails.

^18‖In that day the LORD will take away the brauery of their tinckling ornaments about their feete, and their caules, and their round tyres like the Moone.

^19‖‖The chaines, and the bracelets, and the mufflers,

^20†The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legges, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earerings,

²¹The rings, and nose-iewels,

²²The changeable sutes of apparell, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pinnes,

²³The glasses, and the fine linnen, and the hoods, and the vailes.

⁶But when Herod’s birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.

⁶But when Herods birth day was kept, the daughter of Herodias daunced before them, and pleased Herode.

¹⁶So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

^16*So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many bee called, but fewe chosen.

⁴And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.

⁴And the saying ^†pleased Absalom well, and all the Elders of Israel.

²¹And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan:

²¹And the saying ^†pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan:

⁹If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king’s treasuries.

¹⁰And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’ enemy.

⁹If it please the king, let it be written, ^†that they may be destroyed: and I will ^†pay ten thousand talents of siluer to the handes of those that haue the charge of the businesse, to bring it into the kings treasuries.

¹⁰And the king tooke his ring from his hand, and gaue it vnto Haman the sonne of Ammedatha the Agagite, the Iewes ^‖enemie.

¹⁴For many are called, but few are chosen.

^14*For many are called, but few are chosen.

⁴And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king’s son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.

⁵And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand.

⁶¶ So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.

⁴And he saide vnto him, Why art thou, being the Kings sonne, ^†leane ^†from day to day? Wilt thou not tel me? and Amnon said vnto him, I loue Tamar my brother Absaloms sister.

⁵And Ionadab said vnto him, Lay thee downe on thy bed, and make thy selfe sicke: and when thy father commeth to see thee, say vnto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and giue me meat, and dresse the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eate it at her hand.

⁶¶ So Amnon lay downe, and made himselfe sicke: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said vnto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, & make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.

²¹And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father’s concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong.

²²So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

²³And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

²¹And Ahithophel said vnto Absalom, Goe in vnto thy fathers concubines, which he hath left to keepe the house, and all Israel shall heare that thou art abhorred of thy father, then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong.

²²So they spread Absalom a tent vpon the top of the house, and Absalom went in vnto his fathers concubines, in the sight of all Israel.

²³And the counsell of Ahithophel which he counselled in those dayes, was as if a man had enquired at the ^†Oracle of God: so was all the counsell of Ahithophel, both with Dauid and with Absalom.