Esther 4

1NowH1419 when MordecaiH4782 knewH3045 allH3605 that was doneH6213, MordecaiH4782 rent his clothesH899, and putH3847 on sackclothH8242 with ashesH665, and wentH3318 outH3318 intoH8432 the midstH8432 of the cityH5892, and criedH2199 with a loudH1419 and a bitterH4751 cryH2199: 2and he cameH935 evenH5704 beforeH6440 the king’sH4428 gateH8179: for noneH369 might enterH935 withinH935 the king’sH4428 gateH8179 clothedH3830 with sackclothH8242. 3And in everyH3605 provinceH4082, whithersoever the king’sH4428 commandmentH1697 and his decreeH1881 cameH5060, there was greatH1419 mourningH60 among the JewsH3064, and fastingH6685, and weepingH1065, and wailingH4553; and manyH7227 layH3331 in sackclothH8242 and ashesH665. 4And Esther’sH635 maidensH5291 and herH7971 chamberlains cameH935 and toldH5046 it herH7971; and the queenH4436 was exceedinglyH3966 grieved: and sheH635 sentH7971 raiment to clotheH3847 MordecaiH4782, and to takeH5493 his sackclothH8242 from offH5921 him: but he receivedH935 it notH3808. 5Then calledH7121 EstherH635 for HathachH2047, one of the king’sH4428 chamberlains, whomH834 he had appointedH5975 to attendH6440 uponH5921 herH5921, and chargedH6680 him to go to MordecaiH4782, to knowH3045 whatH4100 this was, and whyH4100 it was. 6SoH3318 HathachH2047 wentH3318 forthH3318 to MordecaiH4782 unto the broad place of the cityH5892, whichH834 was beforeH6440 the king’sH4428 gateH8179. 7And MordecaiH4782 toldH5046 him of allH3605 that had happenedH7136 unto him, and the exactH6575 sum of the moneyH3701 that HamanH2001 had promisedH559 to payH8254 to the king’sH4428 treasuriesH1595 for the JewsH3064, to destroyH6 them. 8Also he gaveH5414 him the copyH6572 of the writingH3791 of the decreeH1881 that was givenH5414 outH6440 in Shushan to destroyH8045 them, to shew it unto EstherH635, and to declareH5046 it unto herH413; and to chargeH5921 herH413 that sheH834 should goH935 in unto the kingH4428, to makeH5414 supplication unto him, and to makeH5414 requestH1245 beforeH6440 him, for herH413 peopleH5971. 9And HathachH2047 cameH935 and toldH5046 EstherH635 the wordsH1697 of MordecaiH4782. 10Then EstherH635 spake unto HathachH2047, and gaveH6680 him a message unto MordecaiH4782, sayingH559: 11AllH3605 the king’sH4428 servantsH5650, and the peopleH5971 of the king’sH4428 provincesH4082, doH589 knowH3045, that whosoever, whether manH376 or womanH802, shall comeH935 unto the kingH4428 intoH413 the innerH6442 courtH2691, who is notH3808 calledH7121, there is one lawH1881 for him, that he be putH4191 to deathH4191, exceptH3808 suchH2088 to whomH834 the kingH4428 shall hold outH3045 the goldenH2091 sceptre, that he may liveH2421: but I have notH3808 been calledH7121 to comeH935 in unto the kingH4428 theseH2088 thirtyH7970 daysH3117. 12And they toldH5046 to MordecaiH4782 Esther’sH635 wordsH1697. 13Then MordecaiH4782 bade them returnH7725 answerH7725 unto EstherH635, ThinkH559 notH408 with thyself that thou shalt escapeH4422 in the king’sH4428 houseH1004, moreH5315 thanH4428 allH3605 the JewsH3064. 14For ifH518 thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall reliefH7305 and deliveranceH2020 ariseH5975 to the JewsH3064 from anotherH312 placeH4725, but thou and thy father’sH1 houseH1004 shall perishH6: and who knoweth whetherH518 thou art notH518 comeH5060 to the kingdomH4438 for suchH2063 a time as this? 15Then EstherH635 bade them returnH7725 answerH7725 unto MordecaiH4782, 16GoH935, gatherH3664 togetherH5921 allH3605 the JewsH3064 that are presentH4672 in Shushan, and fastH6684 ye for meH413, and neitherH3808 eatH398 norH3808 drinkH8354 threeH7969 daysH3117, nightH3915 or dayH3117: I also and my maidensH5291 will fastH6684 in like mannerH3651; and soH3651 will I goH935 in unto the kingH4428, whichH834 is notH3808 accordingH5921 to the lawH1881: and ifH834 I perishH6, I perishH6. 17SoH6213 MordecaiH4782 went his wayH3605, and didH6213 accordingH5921 to allH3605 that EstherH635 had commandedH6680 him.