1 When Mordecai{H4782} perceived{H3045}{(H8804)} all that was done{H6213}{(H8738)}, Mordecai{H4782} rent{H7167}{(H8799)} his clothes{H899}, and put on{H3847}{(H8799)} sackcloth{H8242} with ashes{H665}, and went out{H3318}{(H8799)} into the midst{H8432} of the city{H5892}, and cried{H2199}{(H8799)} with a loud{H1419} and a bitter{H4751} cry{H2201};

2 And came{H935}{(H8799)} even before{H6440} the king's{H4428} gate{H8179}: for none might enter{H935}{(H8800)} into the king's{H4428} gate{H8179} clothed{H3830} with sackcloth{H8242}.

3 And in every province{H4082}, whithersoever{H4725} the king's{H4428} commandment{H1697} and his decree{H1881} came{H5060}{(H8688)}, there was great{H1419} mourning{H60} among the Jews{H3064}, and fasting{H6685}, and weeping{H1065}, and wailing{H4553}; and many{H7227} lay{H3331}{(H8714)} in sackcloth{H8242} and ashes{H665}.

4 So Esther's{H635} maids{H5291} and her chamberlains{H5631} came{H935}{(H8799)} and told{H5046}{(H8686)} it her. Then was the queen{H4436} exceedingly{H3966} grieved{H2342}{(H8698)}; and she sent{H7971}{(H8799)} raiment{H899} to clothe{H3847}{(H8687)} Mordecai{H4782}, and to take away{H5493}{(H8687)} his sackcloth{H8242} from him: but he received{H6901}{(H8765)} it not.

5 Then called{H7121}{(H8799)} Esther{H635} for Hatach{H2047}, one of the king's{H4428} chamberlains{H5631}, whom he had appointed{H5975}{(H8689)} to attend{H6440} upon her, and gave him a commandment{H6680}{(H8762)} to Mordecai{H4782}, to know{H3045}{(H8800)} what it was, and why it was.

6 So Hatach{H2047} went forth{H3318}{(H8799)} to Mordecai{H4782} unto the street{H7339} of the city{H5892}, which was before{H6440} the king's{H4428} gate{H8179}.

7 And Mordecai{H4782} told{H5046}{(H8686)} him of all that had happened{H7136}{(H8804)} unto him, and of the sum{H6575} of the money{H3701} that Haman{H2001} had promised{H559}{(H8804)} to pay{H8254}{(H8800)} to the king's{H4428} treasuries{H1595} for the Jews{H3064}, to destroy{H6}{(H8763)} them.

8 Also he gave{H5414}{(H8804)} him the copy{H6572} of the writing{H3791} of the decree{H1881} that was given{H5414}{(H8738)} at Shushan{H7800} to destroy{H8045}{(H8687)} them, to shew{H7200}{(H8687)} it unto Esther{H635}, and to declare{H5046}{(H8687)} it unto her, and to charge{H6680}{(H8763)} her that she should go in{H935}{(H8800)} unto the king{H4428}, to make supplication{H2603}{(H8692)} unto him, and to make request{H1245}{(H8763)} before{H6440} him for her people{H5971}.

9 And Hatach{H2047} came{H935}{(H8799)} and told{H5046}{(H8686)} Esther{H635} the words{H1697} of Mordecai{H4782}.

10 Again Esther{H635} spake{H559}{(H8799)} unto Hatach{H2047}, and gave him commandment{H6680}{(H8762)} unto Mordecai{H4782};

11 All the king's{H4428} servants{H5650}, and the people{H5971} of the king's{H4428} provinces{H4082}, do know{H3045}{(H8802)}, that whosoever, whether man{H376} or woman{H802}, shall come{H935}{(H8799)} unto the king{H4428} into the inner{H6442} court{H2691}, who is not called{H7121}{(H8735)}, there is one{H259} law{H1881} of his to put him to death{H4191}{(H8687)}, except{H905} such to whom the king{H4428} shall hold out{H3447}{(H8686)} the golden{H2091} sceptre{H8275}, that he may live{H2421}{(H8804)}: but I have not been called{H7121}{(H8738)} to come in{H935}{(H8800)} unto the king{H4428} these thirty{H7970} days{H3117}.

12 And they told{H5046}{(H8686)} to Mordecai{H4782} Esther's{H635} words{H1697}.

13 Then Mordecai{H4782} commanded{H559}{(H8799)} to answer{H7725}{(H8687)} Esther{H635}, Think{H1819}{(H8762)} not with thyself{H5315} that thou shalt escape{H4422}{(H8736)} in the king's{H4428} house{H1004}, more than all the Jews{H3064}.

14 For if thou altogether{H2790}{(H8687)} holdest thy peace{H2790}{(H8686)} at this time{H6256}, then shall there enlargement{H7305} and deliverance{H2020} arise{H5975}{(H8799)} to the Jews{H3064} from another{H312} place{H4725}; but thou and thy father's{H1} house{H1004} shall be destroyed{H6}{(H8799)}: and who knoweth{H3045}{(H8802)} whether thou art come{H5060}{(H8689)} to the kingdom{H4438} for such a time{H6256} as this?

15 Then Esther{H635} bade{H559}{(H8799)} them return{H7725}{(H8687)} Mordecai{H4782} this answer,

16 Go{H3212}{(H8798)}, gather together{H3664}{(H8798)} all the Jews{H3064} that are present{H4672}{(H8737)} in Shushan{H7800}, and fast{H6684}{(H8798)} ye for me, and neither eat{H398}{(H8799)} nor drink{H8354}{(H8799)} three{H7969} days{H3117}, night{H3915} or day{H3117}: I also and my maidens{H5291} will fast{H6684}{(H8799)} likewise; and so{H3651} will I go{H935}{(H8799)} in unto the king{H4428}, which is not according to the law{H1881}: and if I perish{H6}{(H8804)}, I perish{H6}{(H8804)}.

17 So Mordecai{H4782} went his way{H5674}{(H8799)}, and did{H6213}{(H8799)} according to all that Esther{H635} had commanded{H6680}{(H8765)} him.