1
Zamani za Ahasuero; naye huyu Ahasuero alimiliki toka Bara Hindi mpaka Kushi, juu ya majimbo mia na ishirini na saba;
This is what happened in the days of Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces from India to Cush.
2
siku zile mfalme Ahasuero alipoketi katika kiti cha enzi cha ufalme wake, huko Shushani ngomeni;
In those days King Xerxes sat on his royal throne in the citadel of Susa.
3
mwaka wa tatu wa kumiliki kwake, ikawa aliwafanyia karamu maakida wake wote na majumbe wake; wakuu wa Uajemi na Umedi, watu wenye cheo na maakida wa majimbo, wakihudhuria mbele zake.
In the third year of his reign, Xerxes held a feast for all his officials and servants. The military leaders of Persia and Media were there, along with the nobles and princes of the provinces.
4
Akawaonyesha utajiri wa ufalme wake mtukufu, na heshima ya enzi yake bora siku nyingi, maana siku mia na themanini.
And for a full 180 days he displayed the glorious riches of his kingdom and the magnificent splendor of his greatness.
5
Hata siku hizo zilipotimia, mfalme akawafanyia karamu watu wote waliokuwapo huko Shushani ngomeni, wakubwa kwa wadogo, muda wa siku saba, katika behewa la bustani ya ngome ya mfalme.
At the end of this time, in the garden court of the royal palace, the king held a seven-day feast for all the people in the citadel of Susa, from the least to the greatest.
6
Palikuwa na mapazia ya bafta, nyeupe na samawi, yamefungiwa kamba za kitani safi za rangi ya zambarau kwa pete za fedha na nguzo za marumaru; pia na vitanda vilikuwa vya dhahabu na fedha juu ya sakafu ya marumaru, mawe mekundu, na meupe, na ya manjano, na meusi.
Hangings of white and blue linen were fastened with cords of fine white and purple material to silver rings on the marble pillars. Gold and silver couches were arranged on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and other costly stones.
7
Wakawanywesha kileo katika vyombo vya dhahabu, na vile vyombo vilikuwa mbalimbali, na divai tele ya namna ya kifalme, sawasawa na ukarimu wa mfalme;
Beverages were served in an array of goblets of gold, each with a different design, and the royal wine flowed freely, according to the king’s bounty.
8
kunywa kulikuwa kama ilivyoamriwa, bila sharti; maana ndivyo mfalme alivyowaagiza watumishi-wa-nyumbani, kila mtu afanye apendavyo.
By order of the king, no limit was placed on the drinking, and every official of his household was to serve each man whatever he desired.
9
Tena Vashti, malkia, naye akawafanyia karamu wanawake ndani ya nyumba ya kifalme ya mfalme Ahasuero.
Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.
10
Hata siku ya saba, mfalme alipofurahiwa moyo wake kwa divai, aliwaamuru Mehumani, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethari, na Karkasi, wale wasimamizi-wa-nyumba saba waliohudumu mbele za mfalme Ahasuero,
On the seventh day, when the king’s heart was merry with wine, he ordered the seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas—
11
wamlete Vashti, malkia, mbele ya mfalme, amevaa taji ya kifalme; ili kuwaonyesha watu na maakida uzuri wake, maana alikuwa mzuri wa uso.
to bring Queen Vashti before him, wearing her royal crown, to display her beauty to the people and officials. For she was beautiful to behold.
12
Bali Vashti, malkia, alikataa kuja kwa amri ya mfalme kwa mkono wa wasimamizi-wa-nyumba; kwa hiyo mfalme akaghadhibika sana, na hasira yake ikawaka ndani yake.
Queen Vashti, however, refused to come at the king’s command brought by his eunuchs. And the king became furious, and his anger burned within him.
13
Basi mfalme akawaambia wenye hekima, walio na elimu ya nyakati; maana ndivyo ilivyokuwa desturi ya mfalme kwa wote waliojua sheria na hukumu;
Then the king consulted the wise men who knew the times, for it was customary for him to confer with the experts in law and justice.
14
na karibu naye wameketi Karshena, Shethari, Admatha, Tarshishi, Meresi, Marsena, na Memukani, wale maakida saba wa Uajemi na Umedi, waliouona uso wa mfalme, na kuketi wa kwanza katika ufalme; akawauliza,
His closest advisors were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media who had personal access to the king and ranked highest in the kingdom.
15
Tumfanyieje Vashti, malkia, kwa sheria, kwa sababu hakufanya kama vile alivyoamriwa na mfalme Ahasuero kwa mkono wa wasimamizi-wa-nyumba?
“According to law,” he asked, “what should be done with Queen Vashti, since she refused to obey the command of King Xerxes delivered by the eunuchs?”
16
Basi Memukani akajibu mbele ya mfalme na maakida, Huyu Vashti, malkia, hakumkosa mfalme tu peke yake, ila na maakida wote, na watu wote pia walioko katika majimbo yote ya mfalme Ahasuero.
And in the presence of the king and his princes, Memucan replied, “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king, but all the princes and the peoples in all the provinces of King Xerxes.
17
Kwa maana tendo hilo la malkia litajulikana na wanawake wote, hata waume zao watadharauliwa machoni pao, itakaponenwa ya kuwa mfalme Ahasuero aliamuru Vashti, malkia, aletwe mbele yake, bali hakuja.
For the conduct of the queen will become known to all women, causing them to despise their husbands and say, ‘King Xerxes ordered Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she did not come.’
18
Hata na leo hivi mabibi wastahiki wa Uajemi na Umedi waliokwisha kuzisikia habari za tendo lake malkia watawaambia vivi hivi maakida wote wa mfalme. Hivyo kutatokea dharau nyingi na ghadhabu tele.
This very day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard about the queen’s conduct will say the same thing to all the king’s officials, resulting in much contempt and wrath.
19
Basi mfalme akiona vema, na itoke kwake amri ya kifalme, nayo iandikwe katika sheria za Waajemi na Wamedi isitanguke, ya kwamba Vashti asifike tena mbele ya mfalme Ahasuero; na umalkia wake mfalme ampe mwingine aliye mwema kuliko yeye.
So if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree, and let it be recorded in the laws of Persia and Media so that it cannot be repealed, that Vashti shall never again enter the presence of King Xerxes, and that her royal position shall be given to a woman better than she.
20
Basi mbiu ya mfalme atakayoipiga itakapotangazwa katika ufalme wake wote, nao ni mkubwa, wake wote watawaheshimu waume zao, wakubwa kwa wadogo.
The edict the king issues will be heard throughout his vast kingdom—and so all women, from the least to the greatest, will honor their husbands.”
21
Basi neno hili likawapendeza mfalme na maakida; naye mfalme akafanya sawasawa na neno lake Memukani.
The king and his princes were pleased with this counsel; so the king did as Memucan advised.
22
Kwa maana alipeleka nyaraka katika majimbo yote ya mfalme, kila jimbo kwa mwandiko wake, na kila taifa kwa lugha yake, ya kwamba kila mwanamume atawale nyumbani mwake, na kuitangaza habari hii kwa lugha ya watu wake.
He sent letters to all the provinces of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language, proclaiming that every man should be master of his own household.