Esther 4
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.
