A reading from the book of Esther.

Now in the days of Ahasueres, the Ahashiris who reigned from India to Ethiopia, over 127 provinces,

in those days when King Ahashuarez sat on his royal throne in Susa, the citadel. In 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,

while he showed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor and pomp of his greatness for many

days, 180 days. And when these days were completed, the king gave for all the people President Seuss of the

Citadel, both great and small, a feast lasting for seven days in the court of the Garden

of the King's Palace.

There 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.

Drinks were served in golden vessels, vessels of different kinds, and the royal wine was

lavished according to the bounty of the king, and 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. Queen Vashti also gave a feast

for the women in the palace that belonged to King Ahashueras. On the seventh day, when the heart of the king

was married with wine, he commanded Mahuman, Bizda, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha,

Zithar and Carcass, the seven eunuchs, who served in the presence of King Ahasueres,

to 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. But 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.

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