1
And when Mordekhai learned all that had been done, Mordekhai tore his garments, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city. And he cried out with a great and bitter cry.
2
And he came before the king’s gate, for no one was permitted to enter the king’s gate wearing sackcloth.
3
And in every province, wherever the Word of the King and his decree reached, there was great mourning among the Yehudim, with fasting, weeping, and lamentation. Sackcloth and ashes were spread beneath many.
4
And Ester’s maidens and her eunuchs came and told her. And the queen was exceedingly distressed. So she sent garments to clothe Mordekhai and to remove his sackcloth from him, but he would not receive them.
5
Then Ester called Hathakh, one of the king’s eunuchs whom he had appointed to attend her, and commanded him concerning Mordekhai, to know what this was and why it was.
6
So Hathakh went out to Mordekhai in the open square of the city which was before the king’s gate.
7
And Mordekhai told him all that had happened to him, and the exact amount of silver which Haman had said he would weigh out into the king’s treasuries for the destruction of the Yehudim.
8
He also gave him a copy of the writing of the decree which had been issued in Shushan for their destruction, that he might show it to Ester and make it known to her, and command her to go in to the king, to seek his favor and make petition before his face for her people.
9
And Hathakh came and told Ester the words of Mordekhai.
10
Then Ester spoke to Hathakh and commanded him to return to Mordekhai:
11
“All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that for every ish or ishah who goes in to the king, into the inner court, without being called, there is one law: to put that one to death— unless the king stretches out toward him the golden scepter, that he may live. And I have not been called to go in to the king these thirty days.”
12
And they told Mordekhai the words of Ester.
13
Then Mordekhai commanded that they answer Ester: “Do not imagine within your being that you alone shall escape in the king’s house from among all the Yehudim.
14
For if keeping silent, you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance shall arise for the Yehudim from another place, but you and the house of your father shall perish. And who knows whether you have come to the Kingdom for a time such as this?”
15
Then Ester commanded that they answer Mordekhai:
16
“Go. Gather together all the Yehudim who are found in Shushan, and fast for me. Do not eat and do not drink for three days, night and day. I also and my maidens shall fast likewise. And thus I shall go in to the king, though it is not according to law. And if I perish, I perish.”
17
So Mordekhai passed on and did according to all that Ester had commanded him.