Esther 1

The King’s Banquets

1Now in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces, 2in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in Susa, the citadel,3in the third year of his reign he gave a feast for all his officials and servants. The army of Persia and Media and the nobles and governors of the provinces were before him, 4while he showed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor and pomp of his greatness for many days, 180 days. 5And when these days were completed, the king gave for all the people present in Susa the citadel, both great and small, a feast lasting for seven days in the court of the garden of the king’s palace. 6There were white cotton curtains and violet hangings fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rods and marble pillars, and also couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and precious stones. 7Drinks were served in golden vessels, vessels of different kinds, and the royal wine was lavished according to the bounty of the king. 8And drinking was according to this edict: “There is no compulsion.” For the king had given orders to all the staff of his palace to do as each man desired. 9Queen Vashti also gave a feast for the women in the palace that belonged to King Ahasuerus.

Queen Vashti’s Refusal

10On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha and Abagtha, Zethar and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus, 11to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her royal crown, in order to show the peoples and the princes her beauty, for she was lovely to look at. 12But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command delivered by the eunuchs. At this the king became enraged, and his anger burned within him.

13Then the king said to the wise men who knew the times (for this was the king’s procedure toward all who were versed in law and judgment, 14the men next to him being Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king’s face, and sat first in the kingdom): 15“According to the law, what is to be done to Queen Vashti, because she has not performed the command of King Ahasuerus delivered by the eunuchs?” 16Then Memucan said in the presence of the king and the officials, “Not only against the king has Queen Vashti done wrong, but also against all the officials and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.17For the queen’s behavior will be made known to all women, causing them to look at their husbands with contempt, since they will say, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, and she did not come.’ 18This very day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s behavior will say the same to all the king’s officials, and there will be contempt and wrath in plenty. 19If it please the king, let a royal order go out from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes so that it may not be repealed, that Vashti is never again to come before King Ahasuerus. And let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she. 20So when the decree made by the king is proclaimed throughout all his kingdom, for it is vast, all women will give honor to their husbands, high and low alike.” 21This advice pleased the king and the princes, and the king did as Memucan proposed. 22He sent letters to all the royal provinces, to every province in its own script and to every people in its own language, that every man be master in his own household and speak according to the language of his people.

Proverbs 19

1 Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity

than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.

2 Desire without knowledge is not good,

and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.

3When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin,

his heart rages against the Lord.

4 Wealth brings many new friends,

but a poor man is deserted by his friend.

5 A false witness will not go unpunished,

and he who breathes out lies will not escape.

6 Many seek the favor of a generous man,

and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.

7 All a poor man’s brothers hate him;

how much more do his friends go far from him!

He pursues them with words, but does not have them.

8 Whoever gets sense loves his own soul;

he who keeps understanding will discover good.

9 A false witness will not go unpunished,

and he who breathes out lies will perish.

10 It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury,

much less for a slave to rule over princes.

11 Good sense makes one slow to anger,

and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

12A king’s wrath is like the growling of a lion,

but his favor is like dew on the grass.

13 A foolish son is ruin to his father,

and a wife’s quarreling is a continual dripping of rain.

14 House and wealth are inherited from fathers,

but a prudent wife is from the Lord.

15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep,

and an idle person will suffer hunger.

16 Whoever keeps the commandment keeps his life;

he who despises his ways will die.

17 Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord,

and he will repay him for his deed.

18 Discipline your son, for there is hope;

do not set your heart on putting him to death.

19A man of great wrath will pay the penalty,

for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.

20Listen to advice and accept instruction,

that you may gain wisdom in the future.

21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man,

but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

22 What is desired in a man is steadfast love,

and a poor man is better than a liar.

23The fear of the Lord leads to life,

and whoever has it rests satisfied;

he will not be visited by harm.

24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish

and will not even bring it back to his mouth.

25 Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence;

reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge.

26He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother

is a son who brings shame and reproach.

27 Cease to hear instruction, my son,

and you will stray from the words of knowledge.

28A worthless witness mocks at justice,

and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.

29 Condemnation is ready for scoffers,

and beating for the backs of fools.

Proverbs 18

1 Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire;
he breaks out against all sound judgment.

2 A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
but only in expressing his opinion.

3 When wickedness comes, contempt comes also,
and with dishonor comes disgrace.

4 The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters;
the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

5 It is not good to be partial to the wicked
or to deprive the righteous of justice.

6 A fool’s lips walk into a fight,
and his mouth invites a beating.

7  A fool’s mouth is his ruin,
and his lips are a snare to his soul.

8 The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
they go down into the inner parts of the body.

9 Whoever is slack in his work
is a brother to him who destroys.

10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
the righteous man runs into it and is safe.

11 A rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
and like a high wall in his imagination.

12 Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty,
but humility comes before honor.

13 If one gives an answer before he hears,
it is his folly and shame.

14 A man’s spirit will endure sickness,
but a crushed spirit who can bear?

15 An intelligent heart acquires knowledge,
and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

16 A man’s gift makes room for him
and brings him before the great.

17 The one who states his case first seems right,
until the other comes and examines him.

18 The lot puts an end to quarrels
and decides between powerful contenders.

19 A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city,
and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.

20 From the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach is satisfied;
he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruits.

22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing
and obtains favor from the Lord.

23 The poor use entreaties,
but the rich answer roughly.

24 A man of many companions may come to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Proverbs 17

1 Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife.

2 A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.

3 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts.

4 An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.

5 Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.

6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.

7 Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a prince.

8 A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of the one who gives it; wherever he turns he prospers.

9 Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.

10 A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool.

11 An evil man seeks only rebellion, and a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

12 Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly.

13 If anyone returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house.

14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out.

15 He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord.

16 Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom when he has no sense?

17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

18 One who lacks sense gives a pledge and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.

19 Whoever loves transgression loves strife; he who makes his door high seeks destruction.

20 A man of crooked heart does not discover good, and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.

21 He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy.

22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

23 The wicked accepts a bribe in secret to pervert the ways of justice.

24 The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

25 A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.

26 To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good, nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.

27 Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

28 Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

Proverbs 16

1The plans of the heart belong to man,

but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,

but the Lord weighs the spirit.

3 Commit your work to the Lord,

and your plans will be established.

4 The Lord has made everything for its purpose,

even the wicked for the day of trouble.

5Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord;

be assured, he will not go unpunished.

6By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,

and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil.

7When a man’s ways please the Lord,

he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

8 Better is a little with righteousness

than great revenues with injustice.

9 The heart of man plans his way,

but the Lord establishes his steps.

10 An oracle is on the lips of a king;

his mouth does not sin in judgment.

11 A just balance and scales are the Lord’s;

all the weights in the bag are his work.

12It is an abomination to kings to do evil,

for the throne is established by righteousness.

13 Righteous lips are the delight of a king,

and he loves him who speaks what is right.

14 A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,

and a wise man will appease it.

15 In the light of a king’s face there is life,

and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rain.

16 How much better to get wisdom than gold!

To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

17The highway of the upright turns aside from evil;

whoever guards his way preserves his life.

18 Pride goes before destruction,

and a haughty spirit before a fall.

19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor

than to divide the spoil with the proud.

20Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good,

and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.

21The wise of heart is called discerning,

and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.

22Good sense is a fountain of life to him who has it,

but the instruction of fools is folly.

23 The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious

and adds persuasiveness to his lips.

24 Gracious words are like a honeycomb,

sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

25There is a way that seems right to a man,

but its end is the way to death.

26A worker’s appetite works for him;

his mouth urges him on.

27 A worthless man plots evil,

and his speech is like a scorching fire.

28 A dishonest man spreads strife,

and a whisperer separates close friends.

29A man of violence entices his neighbor

and leads him in a way that is not good.

30Whoever winks his eyes plans dishonest things;

he who purses his lips brings evil to pass.

31 Gray hair is a crown of glory;

it is gained in a righteous life.

32 Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,

and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

33 The lot is cast into the lap,

but its every decision is from the Lord.