1 Tendo Mordecai sabido tudo o que havia passado, rasgou os seus vestidos, vestiu-se de saco e de cinza, saiu para o meio da cidade, e clamou com grande e amargo clamor.2 Chegou até diante da porta do rei, pois ninguém, vestido de saco, podia entrar pela porta do rei;3 em todas as províncias aonde chegava a ordem do rei, e o seu decreto, havia grande pranto entre os judeus, e jejum, e choro e lamento; e a maior parte deles se deitava em saco e em cinza.4 As criadas de Ester e os seus eunucos vieram e deram-lhe notícias disso. A rainha ficou em extremo entristecida, e enviou roupa para que, tirando-lhe o saco, vestissem a Mordecai; ele porém não a recebeu.5 Ester mandou chamar a Hatá, um dos eunucos do rei, a quem este tinha apontado para a servir, e ordenou-lhe que fosse ter com Mordecai, a fim de saber que era aquilo e porque era.6 Então Hatá saiu a ter com Mordecai à praça da cidade, que estava diante da porta do rei.7 Mordecai informou-o de tudo o que lhe havia sucedido, e a soma exata de dinheiro que Hamã tinha prometido pagar pelos judeus às tesourarias do rei, a fim de que os lançasse a perder.8 Deu-lhe também a cópia do despacho da lei que foi publicada em Susã para os destruir, a fim de que ele a mostrasse a Ester, e lha explicasse; e que lhe advertisse que fosse ter com o rei para lhe pedir misericórdia e fazer súplicas diante dele a favor do seu povo.9 Tendo voltado Hatá, referiu a Ester as palavras de Mordecai.10 Então Ester respondeu a Hatá, e mandou-o dizer a Mordecai:11 Todos os servos do rei e o povo das províncias do rei sabem que para todo o homem ou mulher que entrar no átrio interior a ter com o rei sem ser chamado, para esse um só castigo está prescrito, o ser morto, salvo se o rei estender para ele o seu cetro de ouro, para que viva. Mas já há trinta dias que não tenho sido chamada para entrar ao rei.12 Referiram a Mordecai as palavras de Ester.13 Então Mordecai mandou-os responder a Ester: Não imagines que, estando na casa do rei, escaparás só tu entre todos os judeus.14 Pois se de todo te calares agora, de outra parte se levantará socorro e livramento para os judeus, mas tu e a casa de teu pai perecereis; quem sabe se não foste elevada a rainha para tal tempo como este?15 De novo Ester mandou-os responder a Mordecai:16 Vai ajuntar todos os judeus que se acham em Susã, e jejuai por mim; não comais nem bebais por três dias nem de noite nem de dia. Da mesma maneira também eu e minhas criadas jejuaremos. Depois irei ter com o rei, ainda que isso não é segundo a lei: se perecer, pereci.17 Foi-se Mordecai, e fez conforme tudo o que Ester lhe havia ordenado.

1 Now when Mardochai had heard these things, he rent his garments, and put on sackcloth, strewing ashes on his head: and he cried with a loud voice in the street in the midst of the city, shewing the anguish of his mind.2 And he came lamenting in this manner even to the gate of the palace: for no one clothed with sackcloth might enter the king's court.3 And in all provinces, towns, and places, to which the king's cruel edict was come, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, wailing, and weeping, many using sackcloth and ashes for their bed.4 Then Esther's maids and her eunuchs went in, and told her. And when she heard it she was in a consternation: and she sent a garment, to clothe him, and to take away the sackcloth: but he would not receive it.5 And she called for Athach the eunuch, whom the king had appointed to attend upon her, and she commanded him to go to Mardochai, and learn of him why he did this.6 And Athach going out went to Mardochai, who was standing in the street of the city, before the palace gate:7 And Mardochai told him all that had happened, how Aman had promised to pay money into the king's treasures, to have the Jews destroyed.8 He gave him also a copy of the edict which was hanging up in Susan, that he should shew it to the queen, and admonish her to go in to the king, and to en- treat him for her people.9 And Athach went back and told Esther all that Mardochai had said.10 She answered him, and bade him say to Mardochai:11 ,11All the king's servants, and all the provinces that are under his dominion, know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, cometh into the king's inner court, who is not called for, is immediately to be put to death without any delay: except the king shall hold out the golden sceptre to him, in token of clemency, that so he may live. How then can I go in to the king, who for these thirty days now have not been called unto him?12 And when Mardochai had heard this,13 He sent word to Esther again, saying: Think not that thou mayst save thy life only, because thou art in the king a house, more than all the Jews:14 For if thou wilt now hold thy peace, the Jews shall be delivered by some other occasion: and thou, and thy father's house shall perish. And who knoweth whether thou art not therefore come to the kingdom, that thou mightest be ready in such a time as this?15 And again Esther sent to Mardochai in these words:16 Go, and gather together all the Jews whom thou shalt find in Susan, and pray ye for me. Neither eat nor drink for three days and three nights: and I with my handmaids will fast in like manner, and then I will go in to the king, against the law, not being called, and expose myself to death and to danger.17 So Mardochai went, and did all that Esther had commanded him.