Esther 4

1When MordecaiH4782 perceivedH3045 all that was doneH6213, MordecaiH4782 toreH7167 his clothesH899, and put onH3847 sackclothH8242 with ashesH665, and went outH3318 into the midstH8432 of the cityH5892, and criedH2199 with a loudH1419 and a bitterH4751 cryH2201; 2And cameH935 even beforeH6440 the king’sH4428 gateH8179: for none might enterH935 into the king’sH4428 gateH8179 clothedH3830 with sackclothH8242. 3And in every provinceH4082, whereverH4725 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 ashesH665.1 4So Esther’sH635 maidsH5291 and her chamberlainsH5631 cameH935 and toldH5046 it to her. Then was the queenH4436 exceedinglyH3966 grievedH2342; and she sentH7971 raimentH899 to clotheH3847 MordecaiH4782, and to take awayH5493 his sackclothH8242 from him: but he acceptedH6901 it not.2

5Then calledH7121 EstherH635 for HatachH2047, one of the king’sH4428 chamberlainsH5631, whom he had appointedH5975 to attendH6440 upon her, and gave him a commandmentH6680 to MordecaiH4782, to learnH3045 what it was, and why it was .3 6So HatachH2047 went forthH3318 to MordecaiH4782 to the streetH7339 of the cityH5892, which was beforeH6440 the king’sH4428 gateH8179. 7And MordecaiH4782 toldH5046 him all that had happenedH7136 to him, and of the sumH6575 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 at ShushanH7800 to destroyH8045 them, to showH7200 it to EstherH635, and to tellH5046 it to her, and to chargeH6680 her that she should go inH935 to the kingH4428, to make supplicationH2603 to him, and to make requestH1245 beforeH6440 him for her peopleH5971. 9And HatachH2047 cameH935 and toldH5046 EstherH635 the wordsH1697 of MordecaiH4782. 10Again EstherH635 spokeH559 to HatachH2047, and gave him commandmentH6680 to MordecaiH4782; 11All the king’sH4428 servantsH5650, and the peopleH5971 of the king’sH4428 provincesH4082, do knowH3045, that whoever, whether manH376 or womanH802, shall comeH935 to the kingH4428 into the innerH6442 courtH2691, who is not calledH7121, there is oneH259 lawH1881 of his to put him to deathH4191, exceptH905 him to whom the kingH4428 shall hold outH3447 the goldenH2091 sceptreH8275, that he may liveH2421: but I have not been calledH7121 to come inH935 to the kingH4428 these thirtyH7970 daysH3117. 12And they toldH5046 to MordecaiH4782 Esther’sH635 wordsH1697. 13Then MordecaiH4782 commandedH559 to answerH7725 EstherH635, ThinkH1819 not with thyselfH5315 that thou shalt escapeH4422 in the king’sH4428 houseH1004, more than all the JewsH3064. 14For if thou shalt altogetherH2790 hold thy peaceH2790 at this timeH6256, then shall there reliefH7305 and deliveranceH2020 ariseH5975 to the JewsH3064 from anotherH312 placeH4725; but thou and thy father’sH1 houseH1004 shall be destroyedH6: and who knowethH3045 whether thou hast comeH5060 to the kingdomH4438 for such a timeH6256 as this?4 15Then EstherH635 toldH559 them returnH7725 MordecaiH4782 this answer, 16GoH3212, gatherH3664 all the JewsH3064 that are presentH4672 in ShushanH7800, and fastH6684 ye for me, and neither eatH398 nor drinkH8354 threeH7969 daysH3117, nightH3915 or dayH3117: I also and my maidensH5291 will fastH6684 likewise; and soH3651 will I goH935 in to the kingH4428, which is not according to the lawH1881: and if I perishH6, I perishH6.5 17So MordecaiH4782 went his wayH5674, and didH6213 according to all that EstherH635 had commandedH6680 him.6