< Ester 1 >

1 E sucedeu nos dias de Assuero (este é aquele Assuero que reinou desde a Índia até Ethiopia, sobre cento e vinte e sete províncias):
In the days of Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus who reigned from India as far as Cush, over 127 provinces),
2 Naqueles dias, assentando-se o rei Assuero sobre o trono do seu reino, que está na fortaleza de Susan,
in those days King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in the fortress of Susa.
3 No terceiro ano do seu reinado, fez um convite a todos os seus príncipes e seus servos (o poder da Pérsia e Media e os maiores senhores das províncias estavam perante ele),
In the third year of his reign, he gave a feast to all his officials and his servants. The army of Persia and Media, the noblemen, and governors of the provinces were in his presence.
4 Para mostrar as riquezas da glória do seu reino, e o esplendor da sua excelente grandeza, por muitos dias, a saber: cento e oitenta dias.
He displayed the wealth of the splendor of his kingdom and the honor of the glory of his greatness for many days, for 180 days.
5 E, acabados aqueles dias, fez o rei um convite a todo o povo que se achou na fortaleza de Susan, desde o maior até ao menor, por sete dias, no pátio do jardim do palácio real.
When these days were completed, the king gave a feast lasting seven days. It was for all the people in the fortress of Susa, from the greatest to the least significant. It was held in the courtyard of the garden of the king's palace.
6 As tapeçarias eram de branco, verde, e azul celeste, pendentes de cordões de linho fino e púrpura, e argolas de prata, e colunas de mármore: os leitos de ouro e de prata, sobre um pavimento de porphyro, e de mármore, e de alabastro, e de pedras preciosas.
The courtyard of the garden was decorated with curtains of white cotton and violet, with cords of fine linen and purple, hung on silver rings from pillars of marble. There were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and colored paving stones.
7 E dava-se de beber em vasos de ouro, e os vasos eram diferentes uns dos outros; e havia muito vinho real, segundo o estado do rei.
Drinks were served in golden cups. Each cup was unique and there was much royal wine that came because of the king's generosity.
8 E o beber era por lei, que ninguém forçasse a outro: porque assim o tinha ordenado o rei expressamente a todos os grandes da sua casa, que fizessem conforme à vontade de cada um.
The drinking was carried out in keeping with the decree, “There must be no compulsion,” for in this way the king had given orders to all the officials of his palace to do according to the desire of each man.
9 Também a rainha Vasthi fez um convite às mulheres, na casa real, que tinha o rei Assuero.
Also, Queen Vashti gave a feast for the women in the royal palace of King Ahasuerus.
10 E ao sétimo dia, estando já o coração do rei alegre do vinho, mandou a Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, e Abagtha, Zethar, e a Carchas, os sete eunucos que serviam na presença do rei Assuero,
On the seventh day, when the king's heart was feeling happy because of the wine, he told Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Karkas (the seven officials who served before him),
11 Que introduzissem na presença do rei a rainha Vasthi, com a coroa real, para mostrar aos povos e aos príncipes a sua formosura, porque era formosa à vista.
to bring Queen Vashti before him with her royal crown. He wanted to show the people and the officials her beauty, for her features were stunning.
12 Porém a rainha Vasthi recusou vir conforme à palavra do rei, pela mão dos eunucos; pelo que o rei muito se enfureceu, e ardeu nele a sua ira.
But Queen Vashti refused to come at the word of the king that had been brought to her by the officials. Then the king became very angry; his rage burned within him.
13 Então disse o rei aos sábios que entendiam dos tempos (porque assim se tratavam os negócios do rei na presença de todos os que sabiam a lei e o direito;
So the king conferred with the men who were known to be wise, who understood the times (for this was the king's procedure toward all who were expert in law and judgment).
14 E os mais chegados a ele eram: Carsena, Sethar, Admatha, Tarsis, Meres, Marsena, Memuchan, os sete príncipes dos persas e dos medos, que viam a face do rei, e se assentavam os primeiros no reino)
Now the ones close to him were Karshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memukan, seven princes of Persia and Media. They had access to the king, and they held the highest offices within the kingdom.
15 Que, segundo a lei, se devia fazer da rainha Vasthi, por não haver feito o mandado do rei Assuero, pela mão dos eunucos?
“In compliance with the law, what is to be done to Queen Vashti because she did not obey the command of King Ahasuerus, which was brought to her by the officials?”
16 Então disse Memuchan na presença do rei e dos príncipes: Não somente pecou contra o rei a rainha Vasthi, porém também contra todos os príncipes, e contra todos os povos que há em todas as províncias do rei Assuero.
Memukan said in the presence of the king and the officials, “Not only against the king has Vashti the queen done wrong, but also against all the officials and all the people who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.
17 Porque a notícia deste feito da rainha sairá a todas as mulheres, de modo que desprezarão a seus maridos aos seus olhos quando se disser: Mandou o rei Assuero que introduzissem à sua presença a rainha Vasthi, porém ela não veio.
For the matter of the queen will become known to all women. It will cause them to treat their husbands with contempt. They will say, 'King Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought before him, but she refused.'
18 E neste mesmo dia as princezas da Pérsia e da Media dirão o mesmo a todos os príncipes do rei, ouvindo o feito da rainha: e assim haverá assaz desprezo e indignação.
Before the end of this very day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard of the matter of the queen will say the same thing to all the king's officials. There will be much contempt and anger.
19 Se bem parecer ao rei, saia da sua parte um edito real, e escreva-se nas leis dos persas e dos medos, e não se quebrante, a saber: que Vasthi não entre mais na presença do rei Assuero, e o rei dê o reino dela à sua companheira que seja melhor do que ela
If it pleases the king, let a royal decree be sent out from him, and let it be written in the laws of the Persians and the Medes, which cannot be repealed, that Vashti may no longer come before him. Let the king give her position as queen to another who is better than she.
20 E, ouvindo-se o mandado, que o rei mandar em todo o seu reino (ainda que é grande), todas as mulheres darão honra a seus maridos, desde a maior até à menor.
When the king's decree is proclaimed throughout all his vast kingdom, all the wives will honor their husbands, from the greatest to the least significant.”
21 E pareceram bem estas palavras aos olhos do rei e dos príncipes: e fez o rei conforme à palavra de Memuchan.
The king and his noblemen were pleased with this advice, and the king did as Memukan proposed.
22 Então enviou cartas a todas as províncias do rei, a cada província segundo a sua escritura, e a cada povo segundo a sua língua: que cada homem fosse senhor em sua casa, e que se publicasse conforme à língua do seu povo.
He sent out letters to all the royal provinces, to each province in its own writing, and to each people in their own language. He ordered that every man should be master of his own household. This decree was given in the language of each people in the empire.

< Ester 1 >