< Ester 1 >

1 Y aconteció en los días de Asuero, el Asuero que reinó desde la India hasta la Etiopía, sobre ciento y veinte y siete provincias:
In the days of Assuerus, who reigned from India to Ethiopia over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces:
2 En aquellos días, como se asentó el rey Asuero sobre el trono de su reino, el cual era en Susán cabecera del reino,
When he sat on the throne of his kingdom, the city Susan was the capital of his kingdom.
3 En el tercero año de su reino hizo banquete a todos sus príncipes y siervos, la fuerza de Persia y de Media, gobernadores, y príncipes de provincias delante de él,
Now in the third year of his reign he made a great feast for all the princes, and for his servants, for the most mighty of the Persians, and the nobles of the Medes, and the governors of the provinces in his sight,
4 Para mostrar él las riquezas de la gloria de su reino, y la honra de la hermosura de su grandeza, por muchos días, ciento y ochenta días.
That he might shew the riches of the glory of his kingdom, and the greatness, and boasting of his power, for a long time, to wit, for a hundred and fourscore days.
5 Y cumplidos estos días, hizo el rey a todo el pueblo que se halló en Susán la cabecera del reino, desde el mayor hasta el menor, hizo banquete siete días, en el patio del huerto del palacio real.
And when the days of the feast were expired, he invited all the people that were found in Susan, from the greatest to the least: and commanded a feast to be made seven days in the court of the garden, and of the wood, which was planted by the care and the hand of the king.
6 El pabellón era de blanco, verde, y cárdeno, tendido sobre cuerdas de lino y púrpura, en sortijas de plata, y columnas de mármol: los lechos de oro y de plata, sobre losado de pórfido, y de mármol, y de alabastro, y de cárdeno.
And there were hung up on every side sky coloured, and green, and violet hangings, fastened with cords of silk, and of purple, which were put into rings of ivory, and were held up with marble pillars. The beds also were of gold and silver, placed in order upon a floor paved with porphyry and white marble: which was embellished with painting of wonderful variety.
7 Y daban a beber en vasos de oro, y vasos diferentes de otros, y mucho vino real, conforme a la facultad del rey.
And they that were invited, drank in golden cups, and the meats were brought in divers vessels one after another. Wine also in abundance and of the best was presented, as was worthy of a king’s magnificence.
8 Y la bebida por ley: que nadie constriñiese: porque así lo había mandado el rey a todos los mayordomos de su casa: que se hiciese según la voluntad de cada uno.
Neither was there any one to compel them to drink that were not willing, but as the king had appointed, who set over every table one of his nobles, that every man might take what he would.
9 Asimismo la reina Vasti hizo banquete de mujeres en la casa real del rey Asuero.
Also Vasthi the queen made a feast for the women in the palace, where king Assuerus was used to dwell.
10 El séptimo día estando el corazón del rey bueno del vino, mandó a Meumán, y Bazata, y Harbona, y Bagata, y Abgata, y Zetar, y Carcas, siete eunucos, que servían delante del rey Asuero,
Now on the seventh day, when the king was merry, and after very much drinking was well warmed with wine, he commanded Mauman, and Bazatha, and Harbona, and Bagatha, and Abgatha, and Zethar, and Charcas, the seven eunuchs that served in his presence,
11 Que trajesen a la reina Vasti delante del rey con la corona del reino, para mostrar a los pueblos y a los príncipes su hermosura; porque era hermosa de parecer.
To bring in queen Vasthi before the king, with the crown set upon her head, to shew her beauty to all the people and the princes: for she was exceeding beautiful.
12 Y la reina Vasti no quiso venir al mandado del rey que le envió por mano de los eunucos: y enojóse el rey muy mucho, y encendióse su ira en él.
But she refused, and would not come at the king’s commandment, which he had signified to her by the eunuchs. Whereupon the king, being angry, and inflamed with a very great fury,
13 Y preguntó el rey a los sabios que sabían los tiempos: porque así era la costumbre del rey para con todos los que sabían la ley y el derecho:
Baked the wise men, who according to the custom of the kings, were always near his person, and all he did was by their counsel, who knew the laws, and judgments of their forefathers:
14 Y estaban junto a él Carsena, y Setar, y Admata, y Társis, y Mares, y Marsana, y Memucán, siete príncipes de Persia y de Media, que veían la faz del rey, y se asentaban los primeros del reino:
(Now the chief and nearest him were, Charsena, and Sethar, and Admatha, and Tharsis, and Mares, and Marsana, and Mamuchan, seven princes of the Persians, and of the Medes, who saw the face of the king, and were used to sit first after him: )
15 Según la ley qué se había de hacer con la reina Vasti, por cuanto no había hecho el mandamiento del rey Asuero enviado por mano de los eunucos.
What sentence ought to pass upon Vasthi the queen, who had refused to obey the commandment of king Assuerus, which he had sent to her by the eunuchs?
16 Y dijo Memucán delante del rey y de los príncipes: No solamente contra el rey ha pecado la reina Vasti, mas contra todos los príncipes: y contra todos los pueblos, que son en todas las provincias del rey Asuero.
And Mamuchan answered, in the hearing of the king and the princes: Queen Vasthi hath not only injured the king, but also all the people and princes that are in all the provinces of king Assuerus.
17 Porque esta palabra de la reina saldrá a todas las mujeres para hacer tener en poca estima a sus maridos, diciéndoles: El rey Asuero mandó traer delante de sí a la reina Vasti, y ella no vino.
For this deed of the queen will go abroad to all women, so that they will despise their husbands, and will say: King Assuerus commanded that queen Vasthi should come in to him, and she would not.
18 Y entonces dirán esto las señoras de Persia y de Media, que oyeren el hecho de la reina, a todos los príncipes del rey: y habrá asaz menosprecio y enojo.
And by this example all the wives of the princes of the Persians and the Medes will slight the commandments of their husbands: wherefore the king’s indignation is just.
19 Si parece bien al rey, salga mandamiento real de delante de él, y escríbase entre las leyes de Persia y de Media, y no sea traspasado: Que no venga Vasti delante del rey Asuero: y dé el rey su reino a su compañera que sea mejor que ella.
If it please thee, let an edict go out from thy presence, and let it be written according to the law of the Persians and of the Medes, which must not be altered, that Vasthi come in no more to the king, but another, that is better than her, be made queen in her place.
20 Y será oído el hecho que el rey hará en todo su reino, aunque es grande; y todas las mujeres darán honra a sus maridos, desde el mayor hasta el menor.
And let this be published through all the provinces of thy empire, (which is very wide, ) and let all wives, as well of the greater as of the lesser, give honour to their husbands.
21 Y plugo esta palabra en ojos del rey y de los príncipes: e hizo el rey conforme al dicho de Memucán.
His counsel pleased the king, and the princes: and the king did according to the counsel of Mamuchan.
22 Y envió cartas a todas las provincias del rey, a cada provincia conforme a su escritura, y a cada pueblo conforme a su lenguaje: Que todo varón fuese señor en su casa: y hable según la lengua de su pueblo.
And he sent letters to all the provinces of his kingdom, as every nation could hear and read, in divers languages and characters, that the husbands should be rulers and masters in their houses: and that this should be published to every people.

< Ester 1 >