Chapter 1

1It happened in the days of Ahasuerus—that Ahasuerus who reigned over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces from India to Ethiopia.

vai-Y'-hee b'-Y'-may a-khash-VE-rosh, HU a-khash-VE-rosh ha-m'-LEKH may-HO-du v'-ad-KUSH, SHE-va v'-e-s'-reem u-m'-a, m'-dee-NAH

אוַיְהִ֖י בִּימֵ֣י אֲחַשְׁוֵר֑וֹשׁ ה֣וּא אֲחַשְׁוֵר֗וֹשׁ הַמֹּלֵךְ֙ מֵהֹ֣דּוּ וְעַד־כּ֔וּשׁ שֶׁ֛בַע וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים וּמֵאָ֖ה מְדִינָֽה׃

2In those days, when King Ahasuerus occupied the royal throne in the fortress Shushan,

ba-ya-MEEM ha-HEM, k'-SHE-vet ha-ME-lekh a-khash-VE-rosh al ki-SAY mal-KU-to, a-SHER b'-shu-SHAN ha-bi-RAH

בבַּיָּמִ֖ים הָהֵ֑ם כְּשֶׁ֣בֶת ׀ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֗וֹשׁ עַ֚ל כִּסֵּ֣א מַלְכוּת֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּשׁוּשַׁ֥ן הַבִּירָֽה׃

3in the third year of his reign, he gave a banquet for all the officials and courtiers—the administration of Persia and Media, the nobles and the governors of the provinces in his service.

bish-NAT sha-LOSH l'-mol-KHO a-SAH mish-TEH l'-khol sa-RAV va-a-va-DAV KHAYL pa-RAS u-ma-DAI ha-par-t'-MEEM v'-sa-RAY ha-m'-dee-NOT l'-fa-NAV

גבִּשְׁנַ֤ת שָׁלוֹשׁ֙ לְמׇלְכ֔וֹ עָשָׂ֣ה מִשְׁתֶּ֔ה לְכׇל־שָׂרָ֖יו וַעֲבָדָ֑יו חֵ֣יל ׀ פָּרַ֣ס וּמָדַ֗י הַֽפַּרְתְּמִ֛ים וְשָׂרֵ֥י הַמְּדִינ֖וֹת לְפָנָֽיו׃

4For no fewer than a hundred and eighty days he displayed the vast riches of his kingdom and the splendid glory of his majesty.

b'-har-o-TO et o-SHER k'-VOD mal-KHU-to v'-et ya-KAR tif-E-ret g'-du-LA-to ya-MEEM ra-BEEM sh'-mo-NEEM u-m'-AT yom

דבְּהַרְאֹת֗וֹ אֶת־עֹ֙שֶׁר֙ כְּב֣וֹד מַלְכוּת֔וֹ וְאֶ֨ת־יְקָ֔ר תִּפְאֶ֖רֶת גְּדוּלָּת֑וֹ יָמִ֣ים רַבִּ֔ים שְׁמוֹנִ֥ים וּמְאַ֖ת יֽוֹם׃

5At the end of this period, the king gave a banquet for seven days in the court of the king's palace garden for all the people who lived in the fortress Shushan, high and low alike.

u-vi-m'-LO-at ha-ya-MEEM ha-EL-leh a-SAH ha-ME-lekh l'-KOL ha-AHM ha-nim-tze-EEM b'-shu-SHAN ha-bi-RAH l'-mi-GA-dol v'-ad-ka-TAN mish-TEH shi-VA-at ya-MEEM ba-cha-TZAR gi-NAT bi-TAN ha-ME-lekh

הוּבִמְל֣וֹאת ׀ הַיָּמִ֣ים הָאֵ֗לֶּה עָשָׂ֣ה הַמֶּ֡לֶךְ לְכׇל־הָעָ֣ם הַנִּמְצְאִים֩ בְּשׁוּשַׁ֨ן הַבִּירָ֜ה לְמִגָּ֧דוֹל וְעַד־קָטָ֛ן מִשְׁתֶּ֖ה שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֑ים בַּחֲצַ֕ר גִּנַּ֥ת בִּיתַ֖ן הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

6[There were hangings of] white cotton and blue wool, caught up by cords of fine linen and purple wool to silver rods and alabaster columns; and there were couches of gold and silver on a pavement of marble, alabaster, mother-of-pearl, and mosaics.

KHUR kar-PAS u-te-KHE-let a-KHOOZ b'-khav-lay-BUTZ v'-ar-ga-MAN al g'-li-LAY ke-SEF v'-a-mu-DAY shaysh mi-TOT za-HAV va-KE-sef al ri-TZ'-fat ba-HAT v'-shaysh v'-dar v'-so-KHA-ret

וח֣וּר ׀ כַּרְפַּ֣ס וּתְכֵ֗לֶת אָחוּז֙ בְּחַבְלֵי־ב֣וּץ וְאַרְגָּמָ֔ן עַל־גְּלִ֥ילֵי כֶ֖סֶף וְעַמּ֣וּדֵי שֵׁ֑שׁ מִטּ֣וֹת ׀ זָהָ֣ב וָכֶ֗סֶף עַ֛ל רִֽצְפַ֥ת בַּהַט־וָשֵׁ֖שׁ וְדַ֥ר וְסֹחָֽרֶת׃

7Royal wine was served in abundance, as befits a king, in golden beakers, beakers of varied design.

v'-hash-KOT bi-k'-LEI za-HAV v'-k'-LEEM mi-KE-leem sho-NEEM v'-YEIN mal-KHUT RAV k'-YAD ha-ME-lekh

זוְהַשְׁקוֹת֙ בִּכְלֵ֣י זָהָ֔ב וְכֵלִ֖ים מִכֵּלִ֣ים שׁוֹנִ֑ים וְיֵ֥ין מַלְכ֛וּת רָ֖ב כְּיַ֥ד הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

8And the rule for the drinking was, “No restrictions!” For the king had given orders to every palace steward to comply with each man's wishes.

v'-ha-sh'-ti-YAH kha-DAT AYN o-NES, keen YI-sad ha-ME-lekh al kol-RAV bai-TO, la-a-SOT kir-TZON eesh-va-eesh.

חוְהַשְּׁתִיָּ֥ה כַדָּ֖ת אֵ֣ין אֹנֵ֑ס כִּי־כֵ֣ן ׀ יִסַּ֣ד הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ עַ֚ל כׇּל־רַ֣ב בֵּית֔וֹ לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת כִּרְצ֥וֹן אִישׁ־וָאִֽישׁ׃

9In addition, Queen Vashti gave a banquet for women, in the royal palace of King Ahasuerus.

gam va-SH'-ti ha-mal-KAH a-s'-TAH mish-TEH na-SHEEM beit ha-mal-KHUT a-SHER la-ME-lekh a-KHA-sh'-VE-rosh

טגַּ֚ם וַשְׁתִּ֣י הַמַּלְכָּ֔ה עָשְׂתָ֖ה מִשְׁתֵּ֣ה נָשִׁ֑ים בֵּ֚ית הַמַּלְכ֔וּת אֲשֶׁ֖ר לַמֶּ֥לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרֽוֹשׁ׃

10On the seventh day, when the king was merry with wine, he ordered Mehuman, Bizzetha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven eunuchs in attendance on King Ahasuerus,

ba-YOM ha-sh'-vee-EE k'-TOV lev ha-ME-lekh ba-ya-YIN a-MAR li-m'-HU-man bi-Z'-ta khar-vo-NA bi-G'-ta va-a-va-G'-ta z'-TAR v'-khar-KAS shiv-AHT ha-sa-ree-SEEM ha-m'-sha-RE-teem et p'-NAY ha-ME-lekh a-kha-sh'-VE-rosh

יבַּיּוֹם֙ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י כְּט֥וֹב לֵב־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ בַּיָּ֑יִן אָמַ֡ר לִ֠מְהוּמָ֠ן בִּזְּתָ֨א חַרְבוֹנָ֜א בִּגְתָ֤א וַאֲבַגְתָא֙ זֵתַ֣ר וְכַרְכַּ֔ס שִׁבְעַת֙ הַסָּ֣רִיסִ֔ים הַמְשָׁ֣רְתִ֔ים אֶת־פְּנֵ֖י הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרֽוֹשׁ׃

11to bring Queen Vashti before the king wearing a royal diadem, to display her beauty to the peoples and the officials; for she was a beautiful woman.

l'-ha-VEE et va-SHTI ha-mal-KAH lif-NEY ha-ME-lekh b'-KE-ter mal-KHUT l'-har-OT ha-a-MEEM v'-ha-sa-REEM et yo-FYAH, kee-to-VAT mar-EH hee

יאלְ֠הָבִ֠יא אֶת־וַשְׁתִּ֧י הַמַּלְכָּ֛ה לִפְנֵ֥י הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ בְּכֶ֣תֶר מַלְכ֑וּת לְהַרְא֨וֹת הָֽעַמִּ֤ים וְהַשָּׂרִים֙ אֶת־יׇפְיָ֔הּ כִּֽי־טוֹבַ֥ת מַרְאֶ֖ה הִֽיא׃

12But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command conveyed by the eunuchs. The king was greatly incensed, and his fury burned within him.

va-t'-ma-EN ha-mal-KAH va-shti la-VO bid-VA-ar ha-ME-lekh a-SHER b'-YAD ha-sa-REE-seem va-yik-TZOF ha-ME-lekh m'-OD va-kha-MA-to ba-a-RAH bo

יבוַתְּמָאֵ֞ן הַמַּלְכָּ֣ה וַשְׁתִּ֗י לָבוֹא֙ בִּדְבַ֣ר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּיַ֣ד הַסָּרִיסִ֑ים וַיִּקְצֹ֤ף הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ מְאֹ֔ד וַחֲמָת֖וֹ בָּעֲרָ֥ה בֽוֹ׃

13Then the king consulted the sages learned in procedure. (For it was the royal practice [to turn] to all who were versed in law and precedent.

vai-YO-mer ha-ME-lekh la-cha-KHA-meem yo-D'-AY ha-i-TEEM, kee-KHEN d'-VAR ha-ME-lekh lif-NAY kol yo-D'-AY daht va-DEEN

יגוַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לַחֲכָמִ֖ים יֹדְעֵ֣י הָֽעִתִּ֑ים כִּי־כֵן֙ דְּבַ֣ר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לִפְנֵ֕י כׇּל־יֹדְעֵ֖י דָּ֥ת וָדִֽין׃

14His closest advisers were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven ministers of Persia and Media who had access to the royal presence and occupied the first place in the kingdom.)

v'-ha-ka-ROV ay-LAV kar-SH'-na SHE-tar ad-ma-TA tar-SHEESH me-RES mar-S'-NA me-mu-KHAN shiv-AHT sa-REI pa-RAS u-ma-DAI ro-EI p'-NEI ha-ME-lekh ha-yo-SHE-vim ri-SHO-na ba-mal-KHUT

ידוְהַקָּרֹ֣ב אֵלָ֗יו כַּרְשְׁנָ֤א שֵׁתָר֙ אַדְמָ֣תָא תַרְשִׁ֔ישׁ מֶ֥רֶס מַרְסְנָ֖א מְמוּכָ֑ן שִׁבְעַ֞ת שָׂרֵ֣י ׀ פָּרַ֣ס וּמָדַ֗י רֹאֵי֙ פְּנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ הַיֹּשְׁבִ֥ים רִאשֹׁנָ֖ה בַּמַּלְכֽוּת׃

15“What,” [he asked,] “shall be done, according to law, to Queen Vashti for failing to obey the command of King Ahasuerus conveyed by the eunuchs?”

k'-DAT mah la-a-SOT ba-mal-KAH vash-TI al a-SHER lo a-s'-TA et ma-a-MAR ha-ME-lekh a-khash-VE-rosh b'-yad ha-sa-ree-SEEM

טוכְּדָת֙ מַֽה־לַּעֲשׂ֔וֹת בַּמַּלְכָּ֖ה וַשְׁתִּ֑י עַ֣ל ׀ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־עָשְׂתָ֗ה אֶֽת־מַאֲמַר֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ בְּיַ֖ד הַסָּרִיסִֽים׃

16Thereupon Memucan declared in the presence of the king and the ministers: “Queen Vashti has committed an offense not only against Your Majesty but also against all the officials and against all the peoples in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.

vai-YO-mer (me-mu-KHAN) [me-mu-KHAN] lif-NAY ha-ME-lekh v'-ha-sa-REEM lo al ha-ME-lekh l'-va-DO a-va-TAH va-shti ha-mal-KAH, KEE al-KOL ha-sa-REEM v'-al-KOL ha-a-a-MEEM a-SHER b'-KOL me-di-NOT ha-ME-lekh a-KHASH-ve-ROSH

טזוַיֹּ֣אמֶר (מומכן) [מְמוּכָ֗ן] לִפְנֵ֤י הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ וְהַשָּׂרִ֔ים לֹ֤א עַל־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ לְבַדּ֔וֹ עָוְתָ֖ה וַשְׁתִּ֣י הַמַּלְכָּ֑ה כִּ֤י עַל־כׇּל־הַשָּׂרִים֙ וְעַל־כׇּל־הָ֣עַמִּ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֕ר בְּכׇל־מְדִינ֖וֹת הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרֽוֹשׁ׃

17For the queen's behavior will make all wives despise their husbands, as they reflect that King Ahasuerus himself ordered Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she would not come.

ki-ye-TZE de-VAR ha-mal-KAH al-KOL ha-NA-sheeM l'-hav-ZOT ba-l'-HEM b'-ay-NAY-HEM b'-a-m'-RAM ha-ME-lekh a-KHASH-ve-ROSH a-MAR l'-ha-VEE et-va-SH-tee ha-mal-KAH l'-fa-NAV v'-lo-ba-AH

יזכִּֽי־יֵצֵ֤א דְבַר־הַמַּלְכָּה֙ עַל־כׇּל־הַנָּשִׁ֔ים לְהַבְז֥וֹת בַּעְלֵיהֶ֖ן בְּעֵינֵיהֶ֑ן בְּאׇמְרָ֗ם הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֡וֹשׁ אָמַ֞ר לְהָבִ֨יא אֶת־וַשְׁתִּ֧י הַמַּלְכָּ֛ה לְפָנָ֖יו וְלֹא־בָֽאָה׃

18This very day the ladies of Persia and Media, who have heard of the queen's behavior, will cite it to all Your Majesty's officials, and there will be no end of scorn and provocation!

v'-ha-YOM ha-ZEH to-MAR-nah, sa-ROT pa-RAS u-ma-DAI a-SHER sha-M'-U et d'-VAR ha-mal-KAH, l'-KOL sa-REI ha-ME-lekh, u-k'-DAI bi-ZA-yon va-ka-TSEF

יחוְֽהַיּ֨וֹם הַזֶּ֜ה תֹּאמַ֣רְנָה ׀ שָׂר֣וֹת פָּֽרַס־וּמָדַ֗י אֲשֶׁ֤ר שָֽׁמְעוּ֙ אֶת־דְּבַ֣ר הַמַּלְכָּ֔ה לְכֹ֖ל שָׂרֵ֣י הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וּכְדַ֖י בִּזָּי֥וֹן וָקָֽצֶף׃

19“If it please Your Majesty, let a royal edict be issued by you, and let it be written into the laws of Persia and Media, so that it cannot be abrogated, that Vashti shall never enter the presence of King Ahasuerus. And let Your Majesty bestow her royal state upon another who is more worthy than she.

im-al-ha-me-LEKH tov ye-TZEI d'-var mal-KHUT mi-le-fa-NAV v'-yi-ka-TEV b'-da-TEI pa-RAS u-ma-DAI v'-lo ya-a-VOR a-SHER lo-ta-VO va-SH'-ti li-f'-NEI ha-me-LEKH a-KHASH-ve-ROSH u-mal-KHU-taH yi-TEN ha-me-LEKH li-r'-U-taH ha-TO-va mi-me-NAH

יטאִם־עַל־הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ ט֗וֹב יֵצֵ֤א דְבַר־מַלְכוּת֙ מִלְּפָנָ֔יו וְיִכָּתֵ֛ב בְּדָתֵ֥י פָֽרַס־וּמָדַ֖י וְלֹ֣א יַעֲב֑וֹר אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹֽא־תָב֜וֹא וַשְׁתִּ֗י לִפְנֵי֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ וּמַלְכוּתָהּ֙ יִתֵּ֣ן הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לִרְעוּתָ֖הּ הַטּוֹבָ֥ה מִמֶּֽנָּה׃

20Then will the judgment executed by Your Majesty resound throughout your realm, vast though it is; and all wives will treat their husbands with respect, high and low alike.”

v'-ni-sh'-MA pit-GAM ha-ME-lekh a-SHER ya-a-SEH b'-KOL mal-KU-to, KEE ra-BA hee, v'-KOL ha-NA-sheem yi-t'-NU ya-KAR l'-va-a-LAY-hen, l'-mi-GA-dol v'-ad-ka-TAN.

כוְנִשְׁמַע֩ פִּתְגָ֨ם הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ אֲשֶֽׁר־יַעֲשֶׂה֙ בְּכׇל־מַלְכוּת֔וֹ כִּ֥י רַבָּ֖ה הִ֑יא וְכׇל־הַנָּשִׁ֗ים יִתְּנ֤וּ יְקָר֙ לְבַעְלֵיהֶ֔ן לְמִגָּד֖וֹל וְעַד־קָטָֽן׃

21The proposal was approved by the king and the ministers, and the king did as Memucan proposed.

vai-YI-tav ha-DA-var b'-ay-NAY ha-ME-lekh v'-ha-sa-REEM, vai-YA-as ha-ME-lekh ki-d'-VAR m'-mu-KHAN

כאוַיִּיטַב֙ הַדָּבָ֔ר בְּעֵינֵ֥י הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וְהַשָּׂרִ֑ים וַיַּ֥עַשׂ הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ כִּדְבַ֥ר מְמוּכָֽן׃

22Dispatches were sent to all the provinces of the king, to every province in its own script and to every nation in its own language, that every man should wield authority in his home and speak the language of his own people.

vai-YISH-lakh s'-fa-REEM el kol me-dee-NOT ha-ME-lekh, el me-dee-NAH u-me-dee-NAH ki-k'-ta-VAH, v'-el am va-am kil-sho-NO, lih-YOT kol eeSH so-RAYR b'-vay-TO, u-m'-da-BAYR kil-shoN a-MO. (P)

כבוַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח סְפָרִים֙ אֶל־כׇּל־מְדִינ֣וֹת הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֶל־מְדִינָ֤ה וּמְדִינָה֙ כִּכְתָבָ֔הּ וְאֶל־עַ֥ם וָעָ֖ם כִּלְשׁוֹנ֑וֹ לִהְי֤וֹת כׇּל־אִישׁ֙ שֹׂרֵ֣ר בְּבֵית֔וֹ וּמְדַבֵּ֖ר כִּלְשׁ֥וֹן עַמּֽוֹ׃