Esther 4

1Now whenH834 MordecaiH4782 knewH3045 all that was done, MordecaiH4782 rent his clothesH899, and putH3847 on sackclothH8242 with ashesH665, and wentH3318 out into the midstH8432 of the cityH5892, and criedH2199 with a loud and a bitterH4751 cryH2199; 2and he cameH935 even before the king’sH4428 gateH8179: for none might enter within the king’sH4428 gateH8179 clothed with sackclothH8242. 3And in every provinceH4082, whithersoever the king’sH4428 commandment and his decree came, there was greatH1419 mourningH60 among the JewsH3064, and fastingH6685, and weepingH1065, and wailingH4553; and manyH7227 lay in sackclothH8242 and ashesH665.

4And Esther’s maidens and her chamberlains cameH935 and toldH5046 it her; and the queenH4436 was exceedinglyH3966 grieved: and she sentH7971 raiment to clotheH3847 MordecaiH4782, and to take his sackclothH8242 from off him; but he received it not. 5Then calledH7121 EstherH635 for HathachH2047, oneH2088 of the king’sH4428 chamberlains, whom he had appointedH5975 to attend upon her, and charged him to go to MordecaiH4782, to knowH3045 what this was, and whyH4100 it was. 6So HathachH2047 wentH3318 forthH3318 to MordecaiH4782 unto the broad place of the cityH5892, which was before the king’sH4428 gateH8179. 7And MordecaiH4782 toldH5046 him of all that had happenedH7136 unto him, and the exact sum of the moneyH3701 that HamanH2001 had promised to pay to the king’sH4428 treasuriesH1595 for the JewsH3064, to destroyH6 them. 8Also he gaveH5414 him the copyH6572 of the writing of the decree that was givenH5414 out in Shushan to destroyH8045 them, to showH7200 it unto EstherH635, and to declareH5046 it unto her, and to charge her that she should goH935 in unto the kingH4428, to makeH5414 supplication unto him, and to makeH5414 request before him, for her peopleH5971.

9And HathachH2047 cameH935 and toldH5046 EstherH635 the wordsH1697 of MordecaiH4782. 10Then EstherH635 spake unto HathachH2047, and gave him a message unto MordecaiH4782, sayingH559: 11All the king’sH4428 servantsH5650, and the peopleH5971 of the king’sH4428 provincesH4082, do knowH3045, that whosoever, whether manH376 or womanH802, shall comeH935 unto the kingH4428 into the innerH6442 courtH2691, who is not calledH7121, there is oneH259 lawH1881 for him, that he be putH4191 to deathH4191, except those to whom the kingH4428 shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may liveH2421: but I have not been calledH7121 to comeH935 in unto the kingH4428 these thirtyH7970 daysH3117. 12And they toldH5046 to MordecaiH4782 Esther’s wordsH1697.

13Then MordecaiH4782 bade them returnH7725 answer unto EstherH635, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escapeH4422 in the king’sH4428 houseH1004, more than all the JewsH3064. 14For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this timeH6256, then will relief and deliverance ariseH5975 to the JewsH3064 from another placeH4725, but thou and thy father’sH1 houseH1004 will perishH6: and who knoweth whether thou art not come to the kingdomH4438 for such a timeH6256 as this? 15Then EstherH635 bade them returnH7725 answer unto MordecaiH4782, 16GoH935, gatherH3664 together all the JewsH3064 that are present in Shushan, and fastH6684 ye for me, and neither eatH398 nor drinkH8354 threeH7969 daysH3117, nightH3915 or dayH3117: I alsoH1571 and my maidens will fastH6684 in like manner; and soH3651 will I goH935 in unto the kingH4428, which is not according to the lawH1881: and if I perishH6, I perishH6. 17So MordecaiH4782 went his way, and did according to all that EstherH635 had commandedH6680 him.