6. The area was decorated with blue and white cotton curtains tied back with purple linen cords that ran through silver rings fastened to marble columns. Couches of gold and silver rested on pavement that had all kinds of designs made from costly bright-coloured stones and marble and mother-of-pearl.
7. The guests drank from gold cups, and each cup had a different design. The king was generous
8. and said to them, “Drink all you want!” Then he told his servants, “Keep their cups full.”
9. While the men were enjoying themselves, Queen Vashti gave the women a big dinner inside the royal palace.
10. By the seventh day, King Xerxes was feeling happy because of so much wine. And he asked his seven personal servants, Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas,
11. to bring Queen Vashti to him. The king wanted her to wear her crown and let his people and his officials see how beautiful she was.
12. The king's servants told Queen Vashti what he had said, but she refused to go to him, and this made him terribly angry.
15. The king said to them, “Queen Vashti refused to come to me when I sent my servants for her. What does the law say I should do about that?”
16. Then Memucan told the king and the officials:Your Majesty, Queen Vashti has not only embarrassed you, but she has insulted your officials and everyone else in all the provinces.
17. The women in the kingdom will hear about this, and they will refuse to respect their husbands. They will say, “If Queen Vashti doesn't obey her husband, why should we?”
18. Before this day is over, the wives of the officials of Persia and Media will find out what Queen Vashti has done, and they will refuse to obey their husbands. They won't respect their husbands, and their husbands will be angry with them.