Esther 4

Esther Learns of Haman’s Plot

1When MordecaiH4782 learnedH3045 1allH3605 that had been doneH6213, 2he toreH7167 his clothesH899, putH3847 on sackclothH8242 and ashesH665, and wentH3318 out into the midstH8432 of the cityH5892 and wailedH2199 loudlyH1419 and bitterlyH4751. 2He wentH935 as farH5704 as the king’sH4428 gateH8179, for noH369 oneH369 was to enterH935 the king’sH4428 gateH8179 clothedH3830 in sackclothH8242. 3In eachH4082 and everyH3605 provinceH4082 whereH4725H834 the commandH1697 and decreeH1881 of the kingH4428 cameH5060, there was greatH1419 mourningH60 among the JewsH3064, with 3fastingH6685, weepingH1065 and wailingH4553; and manyH7227 layH3331 on sackclothH8242 and ashesH665.

4Then Esther’sH635 maidensH5291 and her eunuchsH5631 cameH935 and toldH5046 her, and the queenH4436 writhedH2342 in greatH3966 anguish. And she sentH7971 garmentsH899 to clotheH3847 MordecaiH4782 that he might removeH5493 his sackclothH8242 from him, but he did not acceptH6901 them. 5Then EstherH635 summonedH7121 HathachH2047 from the king’sH4428 eunuchsH5631, whomH834 4the king had appointedH5975 to attendH6440 her, and orderedH6680 him to go to MordecaiH4782 to learnH3045 whatH4100 thisH2088 was and whyH4100 it was. 6So HathachH2047 wentH3318 out to MordecaiH4782 to the cityH5892 squareH7339 in frontH6440 of the king’sH4428 gateH8179. 7MordecaiH4782 toldH5046 him allH3605 that had happenedH7136 to him, and 5the exactH6575 amountH6575 of moneyH3701 that HamanH2001 had promisedH559 to payH8254 to the king’sH4428 treasuriesH1595 for the destructionH6 of the JewsH3064. 8He also gaveH5414 him 6a copyH6572 of the textH3791 of the edictH1881 whichH834 had been issuedH5414 in SusaH7800 for their destructionH8045, that he might showH7200 EstherH635 and informH5046 her, and to orderH6680 her to goH935 in to the kingH4428 to imploreH2603 his favorH2603 and to pleadH1245 with him for her peopleH5971.

9HathachH2047 cameH935 back and relatedH5046 Mordecai’sH4782 wordsH1697 to EstherH635. 10Then EstherH635 spokeH559 to HathachH2047 and orderedH6680 him to reply to MordecaiH4782: 11“AllH3605 the king’sH4428 servantsH5650 and the peopleH5971 of the king’sH4428 provincesH4082 knowH3045 that for anyH3605 manH376 or womanH802 whoH834 7comesH935 to the kingH4428 to the innerH6442 courtH2691 whoH834 is not summonedH7121, 8he has but oneH259 lawH1881, that he be putH4191 to deathH4191, unlessH905H4480H834 the kingH4428 holdsH3447 out 9to him the goldenH2091 scepterH8275 so that he may liveH2421. And I have not been summonedH7121 to comeH935 to the kingH4428 for theseH2088 thirtyH7970 daysH3117.” 12They relatedH5046 Esther’sH635 wordsH1697 to MordecaiH4782.

13Then MordecaiH4782 toldH559 them to replyH7725 to EstherH635, “Do not imagineH1819 that you in the king’sH4428 palaceH1004 can escapeH4422 any moreH4480 thanH4480 allH3605 the JewsH3064. 14For ifH518 you remainH2790 silentH2790 at thisH2088 timeH6256, reliefH7305 and 10deliveranceH2020 will ariseH5975 for the JewsH3064 from anotherH312 placeH4725 and you and your father’sH1 houseH1004 will perishH6. And whoH4310 knowsH3045 whetherH518 you have not attainedH5060 royaltyH4438 for such a timeH6256 as thisH2088?”

Esther Plans to Intercede

15Then EstherH635 toldH559 them to replyH7725 to MordecaiH4782, 16“GoH1980, assembleH3664 allH3605 the JewsH3064 who are foundH4672 in SusaH7800, and fastH6684 for me; 11do not eatH398 or drinkH8354 for 12threeH7969 daysH3117, nightH3915 or dayH3117. I and my maidensH5291 alsoH1571 will fastH6684 in the sameH3651 wayH3651. And thusH3651 I will goH935 in to the kingH4428, whichH834 is not according to the lawH1881; and ifH834 I perishH6, I perishH6.” 17So MordecaiH4782 wentH5674 awayH5674 and didH6213 justH3605H834 as EstherH635 had commandedH6680 him.