New American Standard Bible 1995

Esther 4

Esther Learns of Haman’s Plot

1When MordecaiH4782learnedיָדַע֙ya.Da'H3045allכָּל־kol-H3605that had been doneנַעֲשָׂ֔הna.'a.SahH6213,he toreוַיִּקְרַ֤עvai.yik.Ra'H7167his clothesבְּגָדָ֔יוbe.ga.DavH899,putוַיִּלְבַּ֥שׁvai.yil.BashH3847on sackclothשַׂ֖קsakH8242and ashesוָאֵ֑פֶרva.'E.ferH665,and wentוַיֵּצֵא֙vai.ye.Tze'H3318out into the midstבְּת֣וֹךְbe.TokhH8432of the cityהָעִ֔ירha.'IrH5892and wailedוַיִּזְעַ֛קvai.yiz.'AkH2199loudlyגְדֹלָ֖הge.do.LahH1419and bitterlyוּמָרָֽה׃u.ma.RahH4751.

2He wentוַיָּב֕וֹאvai.ya.Vo'H935as farעַ֖ד'adH5704as the king’sהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428gateשַֽׁעַר־sha.'ar-H8179,for noH369oneH369was to enterלָב֛וֹאla.Vo'H935the king’sהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428gateשַׁ֥עַרSha.'arH8179clothedבִּלְב֥וּשׁbil.VushH3830in sackclothשָֽׂק׃SakH8242.

3In eachמְדִינָ֣הme.di.NahH4082and everyוּבְכָל־u.ve.Khol-H3605provinceוּמְדִינָ֗הu.me.di.NahH4082whereמְקוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁ֨רme.kOm 'a.SherH4725 H834the commandדְּבַר־de.var-H1697and decreeוְדָתוֹ֙ve.da.ToH1881of the kingהַמֶּ֤לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428cameמַגִּ֔יעַma.Gi.a'H5060,there was greatגָּדוֹל֙ga.dOlH1419mourningאֵ֤בֶל'E.velH60among the Jewsלַיְּהוּדִ֔יםlai.ye.hu.DimH3064, withfastingוְצ֥וֹםve.TzomH6685,weepingוּבְכִ֖יu.ve.KhiH1065and wailingוּמִסְפֵּ֑דu.mis.PedH4553;and manyלָֽרַבִּֽים׃La.ra.BimH7227layיֻצַּ֖עyu.Tza'H3331on sackclothשַׂ֣קsakH8242and ashesוָאֵ֔פֶרva.'E.ferH665.

4Then Esther’sאֶסְתֵּ֤ר'es.TerH635maidensנַעֲר֨וֹתna.'a.RotH5291and her eunuchsוְסָרִיסֶ֙יהָ֙ve.sa.ri.Sei.haH5631cameוַ֠תָּבֹאינָהva.te.vo.'ei.nahH935and toldוַיַּגִּ֣ידוּvai.ya.Gi.duH5046her, and the queenהַמַּלְכָּ֖הha.mal.KahH4436writhedוַתִּתְחַלְחַ֥לva.tit.chal.ChalH2342in greatמְאֹ֑דme.'OdH3966anguish. And she sentוַתִּשְׁלַ֨חva.tish.LachH7971garmentsבְּגָדִ֜יםbe.ga.DimH899to clotheלְהַלְבִּ֣ישׁle.hal.BishH3847Mordecaiמָרְדֳּכַ֗יma.re.do.KhaiH4782that he might removeוּלְהָסִ֥ירu.le.ha.SirH5493his sackclothשַׂקּ֛וֹsa.KoH8242from him, but he did not acceptקִבֵּֽל׃ki.BelH6901them.

5Then Estherאֶסְתֵּ֨ר'es.TerH635summonedוַתִּקְרָא֩va.tik.Ra'H7121Hathachלַהֲתָ֜ךְla.ha.TakhH2047from the king’sהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha.Me.lekhH4428eunuchsמִסָּרִיסֵ֤יmi.sa.ri.SeiH5631,whomאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834the king had appointedהֶעֱמִ֣ידhe.'e.MidH5975to attendלְפָנֶ֔יהָle.fa.Nei.haH6440her, and orderedוַתְּצַוֵּ֖הוּva.te.tza.Ve.huH6680him to goto Mordecaiמָרְדֳּכָ֑יma.re.do.KhaiH4782to learnלָדַ֥עַתla.Da.'atH3045whatמַה־mah-H4100thisH2088wasand whyמַה־mah-H4100it was.

6So Hathachהֲתָ֖ךְha.TakhH2047wentוַיֵּצֵ֥אvai.ye.Tze'H3318out to Mordecaiמָרְדֳּכָ֑יma.re.do.KhaiH4782to the cityהָעִ֔ירha.'IrH5892squareרְח֣וֹבre.ChovH7339in frontלִפְנֵ֥יlif.NeiH6440of the king’sהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ha.Me.lekhH4428gateשַֽׁעַר־sha.'ar-H8179.

7Mordecaiמָרְדֳּכַ֔יma.re.do.KhaiH4782toldוַיַּגֶּד־vai.ya.ged-H5046him allכָּל־kol-H3605that had happenedקָרָ֑הוּka.Ra.huH7136to him, andthe exactH6575amountH6575of moneyהַכֶּ֗סֶףha.Ke.sefH3701that Hamanהָמָן֙ha.ManH2001had promisedאָמַ֤ר'a.MarH559to payלִ֠שְׁקוֹלLish.kolH8254to the king’sהַמֶּ֛לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428treasuriesגִּנְזֵ֥יgin.ZeiH1595for the destructionלְאַבְּדָֽם׃le.'a.be.DamH6of the Jewsבַּיְּהוּדִ֖יםbai.ye.hu.di.yimH3064.

8He also gaveנִתַּ֨ןni.TanH5414hima copyפַּתְשֶׁ֣גֶןpat.She.genH6572of the textכְּתָֽב־ke.tav-H3791of the edictהַ֠דָּתHa.dotH1881whichאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834had been issuedנָ֣תַןNa.tanH5414in Susaבְּשׁוּשָׁ֤ןbe.shu.ShanH7800for their destructionלְהַשְׁמִידָם֙le.hash.mi.DamH8045,that he might showלְהַרְא֥וֹתle.har.'otH7200Estherאֶסְתֵּ֖ר'es.TerH635and informוּלְהַגִּ֣ידu.le.ha.GidH5046her, and to orderוּלְצַוּ֣וֹתu.le.tza.VotH6680her to goלָב֨וֹאla.Vo'H935in to the kingהַמֶּ֧לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428to imploreH2603his favorלְהִֽתְחַנֶּן־le.hit.cha.nen-H2603and to pleadוּלְבַקֵּ֥שׁu.le.va.KeshH1245with him for her peopleעַמָּֽהּ׃'a.MahH5971.

9Hathachהֲתָ֑ךְha.TakhH2047cameוַיָּב֖וֹאvai.ya.Vo'H935back and relatedוַיַּגֵּ֣דvai.ya.GedH5046Mordecai’sמָרְדֳּכָֽי׃ma.re.do.KhaiH4782wordsדִּבְרֵ֥יdiv.ReiH1697to Estherלְאֶסְתֵּ֔רle.'es.TerH635.

10Then Estherאֶסְתֵּר֙'es.TerH635spokeוַתֹּ֤אמֶרva.To.merH559to Hathachלַהֲתָ֔ךְla.ha.TakhH2047and orderedוַתְּצַוֵּ֖הוּva.te.tza.Ve.huH6680him to replyto Mordecaiמָרְדֳּכָֽי׃ma.re.do.KhaiH4782:

11“Allכָּל־kol-H3605the king’sהַמֶּ֡לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428servantsעַבְדֵ֣י'av.DeiH5650and the peopleוְעַם־ve.'am-H5971of the king’sהַמֶּ֜לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428provincesמְדִינ֨וֹתme.di.NotH4082knowיֽוֹדְעִ֗יםyod.'ImH3045that for anyכָּל־kol-H3605manאִ֣ישׁ'ishH376or womanוְאִשָּׁ֡הve.'i.ShahH802whoH834comesיָבֽוֹא־ya.Vo'-H935to the kingהַמֶּלֶךְ֩ha.me.leKhH4428to the innerהַפְּנִימִ֜יתha.pe.ni.MitH6442courtהֶחָצֵ֨רhe.cha.TzerH2691whoH834is not summonedיִקָּרֵ֗אyi.ka.Re'H7121,he has but oneאַחַ֤ת'a.ChatH259lawדָּתוֹ֙da.ToH1881,that he be putלְהָמִ֔יתle.ha.MitH4191to deathH4191,unlessלְ֠בַדLe.vadH905 H4480 H834the kingהַמֶּ֛לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428holdsיֽוֹשִׁיט־yo.shit-H3447outto him the goldenהַזָּהָ֖בha.za.HavH2091scepterשַׁרְבִ֥יטshar.VitH8275so that he may liveוְחָיָ֑הve.cha.YahH2421.And I have not been summonedנִקְרֵ֙אתי֙nik.Re.tiH7121to comeלָב֣וֹאla.Vo'H935to the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428for theseזֶ֖הzehH2088thirtyשְׁלוֹשִׁ֥יםshe.lo.ShimH7970daysיֽוֹם׃YomH3117.”

12They relatedוַיַּגִּ֣ידוּvai.ya.Gi.duH5046Esther’sאֶסְתֵּֽר׃ פ'es.TerH635wordsדִּבְרֵ֥יdiv.ReiH1697to Mordecaiלְמָרְדֳּכָ֔יle.ma.re.do.KhaiH4782.

13Then Mordecaiמָרְדֳּכַ֖יma.re.do.KhaiH4782toldוַיֹּ֥אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559themto replyלְהָשִׁ֣יבle.ha.ShivH7725to Estherאֶסְתֵּ֑ר'es.TerH635, “Do not imagineתְּדַמִּ֣יte.da.MiH1819that you in the king’sהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428palaceבֵּית־beit-H1004can escapeלְהִמָּלֵ֥טle.hi.ma.LetH4422any moreH4480thanH4480allמִכָּל־mi.kolH3605the Jewsהַיְּהוּדִֽים׃hai.ye.hu.DimH3064.

14For ifאִם־'im-H518you remainהַחֲרֵ֣שׁha.cha.ReshH2790silentתַּחֲרִישִׁי֮ta.cha.ri.ShiH2790at thisH2088timeבָּעֵ֣תba.'EtH6256,reliefרֶ֣וַחRe.vachH7305anddeliveranceוְהַצָּלָ֞הve.ha.tza.LahH2020will ariseיַעֲמ֤וֹדya.'a.ModH5975for the Jewsלַיְּהוּדִים֙lai.ye.hu.DimH3064from anotherאַחֵ֔ר'a.CherH312placeמִמָּק֣וֹםmi.ma.KomH4725and you and your father’sאָבִ֖יךְ'a.VikhH1houseוּבֵית־u.veit-H1004will perishתֹּאבֵ֑דוּto.Ve.duH6.And whoוּמִ֣יu.MiH4310knowsיוֹדֵ֔עַyo.De.a'H3045whetherאִם־'im-H518you have not attainedהִגַּ֖עַתְּhi.Ga.'atH5060royaltyלַמַּלְכֽוּת׃la.mal.KhutH4438for such a timeלְעֵ֣תle.'EtH6256as thisH2088?”

Esther Plans to Intercede

15Then Estherאֶסְתֵּ֖ר'es.TerH635toldוַתֹּ֥אמֶרva.To.merH559themto replyלְהָשִׁ֥יבle.ha.ShivH7725to Mordecaiמָרְדֳּכָֽי׃ma.re.do.KhaiH4782,

16“Goלֵךְ֩leKhH1980,assembleכְּנ֨וֹסke.NosH3664allכָּל־kol-H3605the Jewsהַיְּהוּדִ֜יםhai.ye.hu.DimH3064who are foundהַֽנִּמְצְאִ֣יםha.nim.tze.'ImH4672in Susaבְּשׁוּשָׁ֗ןbe.shu.ShanH7800,and fastוְצ֣וּמוּve.Tzu.muH6684for me;do not eatתֹּאכְל֨וּto.khe.LuH398or drinkתִּשְׁתּ֜וּtish.TuH8354forthreeשְׁלֹ֤שֶׁתshe.Lo.shetH7969daysיָמִים֙ya.MimH3117,nightלַ֣יְלָהLay.lahH3915or dayוָי֔וֹםva.YomH3117.I and my maidensוְנַעֲרֹתַ֖יve.na.'a.ro.TaiH5291alsoגַּם־gam-H1571will fastאָצ֣וּם'a.TzumH6684in the sameH3651wayH3651.And thusH3651I will goאָב֤וֹא'a.Vo'H935in to the kingהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha.Me.lekhH4428,whichאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834is not according to the lawכַדָּ֔תkha.DatH1881;and ifוְכַאֲשֶׁ֥רve.kha.'a.SherH834I perishאָבַ֖דְתִּי'a.Vad.tiH6,I perishאָבָֽדְתִּי׃'a.Va.de.tiH6.”

17So Mordecaiמָרְדֳּכָ֑יma.re.do.KhaiH4782wentH5674awayH5674and didוַיַּ֕עַשׂvai.Ya.'asH6213justכְּכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־ke.Khol 'a.Sher-H3605 H834as Estherאֶסְתֵּֽר׃ ס'es.TerH635had commandedצִוְּתָ֥הtzi.ve.TahH6680him.

Esther Learns of Haman’s Plot

Esther Plans to Intercede

Commentaries on Esther 4