Книга Есфири 1
1 И бысть по словесех сих во днех Артаксеркса: сей Артаксеркс от Индии обладаше сто двадесять седмию странами (даже до Ефиопии):
These events happened in the time of Ahasuerus, who ruled over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces from India to Ethiopia
2 во дни же тыя, егда седе на престоле царь Артаксеркс в Сусех граде,
from his royal throne in the fortified palace of Susa.
3 в третие лето царства своего, сотвори пир другом и прочым языком, и Персским и Мидским славным, и началным сатрапом,
In the third year of his reign, the king gave a feast for all his officers and courtiers. The commanders of the military forces of Persia and Media, the nobles and provincial rulers were present
4 и по сих, егда показа им богатство царства своего и славу веселия своего, во сто осмьдесят дний.
while for one hundred and eighty days he showed them the glorious riches of his kingdom and the costliness of his magnificent regalia.
5 И егда исполнишася дние пира, сотвори царь пиршество языком обретшымся во граде (Сусех) на дний шесть во дворе дому царева,
When these days were ended, the king held a banquet for all the people who were present in the royal palace at Susa, high and low alike. It was a seven days’ feast in the enclosed garden of the royal palace.
6 украшеннем виссонными и зелеиыми завесами, простертыми на ужах виссонных и червленичных, на колцах златых и сребряных, на столпех мраморных и каменных:
There were white and violet cotton curtains fastened to silver rings and pillars of marble with cords of fine purple wool and linen. The couches were of gold and silver placed upon a mosaic pavement of alabaster, white marble, mother-of-pearl, and dark stone.
7 ложа злата и сребряна, на помосте камене смарагдова, и пиннинска и паринска мрамора, и плащаницы пестротами различными разцвечены, окрест шипцы разсеяни:
Drink was brought in vessels of gold – which were all different – and the king’s wine was provided with royal liberality.
8 сосуди злати и сребряни, и чаша анфракса (камене) предложенная, ценою талант тридесять тысящ: вино много и сладко, еже сам царь пияше: питие же сие не по уставленному закону бысть, тако бо восхоте царь и заповеда икономом сотворити волю свою и мужей.
The drinking was unrestricted, for the king had directed all the officers of his household to let each man do as he pleased.
9 И Астинь царица сотвори пир женам в дому цареве, идеже царь Артаксеркс.
Queen Vashti also gave a feast for the women in the King Ahasuerus’ royal palace.
10 В день же седмый развеселився царь, рече Аману и Вазану, и Фарре и Варазу, и Зафолфану и Аватазу и Фараву, седмим евнухом, иже служаху пред царем Артаксерксом,
On the seventh day, when the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zathar and Carkas, his seven eunuch attendants
11 привести (Астинь) царицу пред него, еже воцарити ю и возложити на ню венец царский и показати ю всем началствующым и языком красоту ея, зане прекрасна бе.
to bring Queen Vashti before him with the royal diadem on her head, to show her beauty to the people and the officials, for she was very beautiful.
12 И не послуша его Астинь царица приити со евнухи.
But Queen Vashti refused to come as the king commanded through the eunuchs. Then the king became very angry and his fury burned within him.
13 И опечалися царь, и разгневася, и рече ближним своим: сице рече Астинь: сотворите убо о сем закон и суд.
The king turned to the wise men who knew the precedents, for it was his custom to confer with those wise in law.
14 И приступиша к нему Аркесей и Сарсофей и Малисеар, началницы Персстии и Мидстии, иже близ царя, первии седящии при цари,
Those next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memucan, seven officials of Persia and Media who had access to the king and were highest in the kingdom.
15 и возвестиша ему по законом, како подобает сотворити царице Астини, яко не сотвори повеленных от царя чрез евнухи.
‘Queen Vashti’, the king said, ‘has failed to obey my royal command – the command of King Ahasuerus conveyed through the eunuchs! What does the law say should be done to her?’
16 И рече Мухей ко царю и к боляром: не царя единаго обиде Астинь царица, но и вся князи и началники царевы,
Memucan replied before the king and the officials, ‘Queen Vashti has done wrong not only to the king but also to all the officials and to all the peoples in all of the king’s provinces.
17 ибо поведа им словеса царицы, и како противорече царю:
The refusal of the queen will be reported to all the women with the result that it will make them despise their husbands. They will say, “King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought in before him, but she did not come!”
18 якоже убо противно рече царю Артаксерксу, сице и днесь госпожи жены прочыя князей Персских и Мидских, услышавшя царю реченная от нея, дерзнут такожде безчествовати мужеи своих:
This very day the ladies of Persia and Media who have heard of the refusal of the queen will tell it to all the king’s officials, and there will be contempt and strife!
19 аще убо угодно царю, да повелит царским повелением, и да напишется по законом Мидским и Персским, и инако да не будет, ниже да внидет ктому царица к нему, и царство ея да предаст царь жене лучшей ея:
If it seems best to the king, let him send out a royal edict. Let it be written among the laws of Persia and Media, never to be repealed, that Vashti may never again come before King Ahasuerus. Let the king give her place as queen to another who is more worthy than she.
20 и да будет услышан закон, иже от царя, егоже сотворит во царствии своем, и сице вся жены возложат честь на мужы своя от богата даже до убога.
When the king’s decree which he makes is heard throughout his kingdom – great as it is – the wives of all classes will give honour to their husbands.’
21 И угодно бысть слово пред царем и началники, и сотвори царь, якоже рече ему Мухей,
The proposal pleased the king and the officials, and the king did as Memucan advised.
22 и посла царь книги во все царство по странам по языку их, да будет страх им в жилищих их.
He sent letters to all the provinces, to every province in its own system of writing and to every people in their language, that every man should be master in his own house!
