Esther 4

1 When Mordecai learned of all that had happened, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the middle of the city, wailing loudly and bitterly.

2 But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because the law prohibited anyone wearing sackcloth from entering that gate.

3 In every province to which the king’s command and edict came, there was great mourning among the Jews. They fasted, wept, and lamented, and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

4 When Esther’s maidens and eunuchs came and told her about Mordecai, the queen was overcome with distress. She sent clothes for Mordecai to wear instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them.

5 Then Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs appointed to her, and she dispatched him to Mordecai to learn what was troubling him and why.

6 So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the city square in front of the king’s gate,

7 and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money that Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury in order to destroy the Jews.

8 Mordecai also gave Hathach a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for the destruction of the Jews, to show and explain to Esther, urging her to approach the king, implore his favor, and plead before him for her people.

9 So Hathach went back and relayed Mordecai’s response to Esther.

10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach and instructed him to tell Mordecai,

11 “All the royal officials and the people of the king’s provinces know that one law applies to every man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned—that he be put to death. Only if the king extends the gold scepter may that person live. But I have not been summoned to appear before the king for the past thirty days.”

12 When Esther’s words were relayed to Mordecai,

13 he sent back to her this reply: “Do not imagine that because you are in the king’s palace you alone will escape the fate of all the Jews.

14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows if perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai:

16 “Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day, and I and my maidens will fast as you do. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish!”

17 So Mordecai went and did all that Esther had instructed him.

1 ¶ When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;

2 And came even before the king's gate: for none [might] enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.

3 And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, [there was] great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

4 So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told [it] her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received [it] not.

5 ¶ Then called Esther for Hatach, [one] of the king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it [was], and why it [was].

6 So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which [was] before the king's gate.

7 And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.

8 Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew [it] unto Esther, and to declare [it] unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people.

9 And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.

10 Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai;

11 All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, [there is] one law of his to put [him] to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.

12 And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.

13 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.

14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, [then] shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for [such] a time as this?

15 Then Esther bade [them] return Mordecai [this answer],

16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which [is] not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

17 So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.

1 And when Mordecai heard all that was done, he rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city. And he cried with a loud cry.

2 And he came unto the king's gate. For no man had to enter into the king's gate with sackcloth on.

3 And in every land, whither the king's word and commandment came, there was great mourning among the Jews; and many fasted, and wept, and mourned, and lay in sackcloth and ashes.

4 And Esther's damsels and her chamberlains came and told her. And the queen was sore afraid. And she sent garments, that Mordecai might put them on, and put off the sackcloth from him: but he took them not.

5 Then Esther called Hathach of the king's chamberlains, which stood before her, and commanded him to Mordecai, that she might know what these things were, and why he did so.

6 Then Hathach went out to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king's gate.

7 And Mordecai told him all that he had met with, and the sum of the silver that Haman had spoken, to weigh it in the king's chamber for the Jews' sakes, to destroy them.

8 And he gave him the copy of the commandment that was written in Shushan to destroy her, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to command her to go in unto the king, and to make supplication unto him for her people.

9 And when Hathach was come in, and saw Esther the words of Mordecai,

10 And Esther spake unto Hathach, and commanded him to Mardachai:

11 All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, know that whosoever goeth in unto the king within the court, whether he be man or woman, and is not called, he shall surely die, except the king give him the golden sceptre, that he may live. But I have not been called to go in to the king for thirty days.

12 And the words of Esther were spoken unto Mordecai;

13 And Mordecai said unto Esther again, Remember not that thou savest thy life, because thou art in the king's house, before all the Jews;

14 For if thou shalt keep silence at this time, then shall help and salvation come unto the Jews out of another place, and thou shalt perish, thou and thy father's house. And who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for this time?

15 Esther called Mordecai to answer:

16 Go therefore, gather together all the Jews that are in Shushan, and fast for me, that ye eat not, nor drink, day nor night, three days: so will I and my damsels fast. So I will go in to the king against the commandment, and if I perish, I perish.

17 And Mordecai went and did all that Esther commanded him.