1 When Mordecai learned about everything 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.

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 He went as far as the king’s gate, but no one was allowed to enter the king's gate wearing sackcloth.

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

3 In every province where the king’s command and decree had reached, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

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 When Esther’s attendants and eunuchs came and told her, the queen was deeply distressed. She sent clothes for Mordecai to wear so he could remove his sackcloth, but he refused them.

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 Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs appointed to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why.

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 Hathach went out to Mordecai in the square of the city in front of the king's gate.

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

7 Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the king's treasury for the destruction of the Jews.

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 He also gave him a copy of the text of the decree issued in Susa for their destruction, so that Hathach could show it to Esther and explain it to her, urging her to go to the king, plead for mercy, and intercede for her people.

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 Hathach returned and reported Mordecai’s message to Esther.

And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.

10 Then Esther instructed Hathach to respond to Mordecai.

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 know that for anyone—man or woman—who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned, there is one law: they are to be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter, allowing them to live. But I have not been summoned to come to the king for thirty days.’

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 When Mordecai was informed of what Esther said,

And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.

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

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 If you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows? Perhaps you have come to your royal position for such a time as this.

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 sent this reply to Mordecai:

Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,

16 Go, gather all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants 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.

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 away and did everything Esther had instructed him to do.

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