Esther 4

1When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes. Then he went out into the midst of the city and cried out with a great and bitter cry.

2He came as far as the front of the king’s gate, because no one could enter the king’s gate clothed in sackcloth.

3And in every province, wherever the king’s word and his decree reached, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and lamentation; sackcloth and ashes were spread out for many.

4Esther’s young women and her eunuchs came and told her, and the queen was greatly distressed. She sent garments to clothe Mordecai and to remove his sackcloth from him, but he did not accept them.

5Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs, whom he had appointed to attend her, and commanded him concerning Mordecai, to learn what this was and why it was.

6So Hathach went out to Mordecai, to the open square of the city that was in front of the king's gate.

7Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, and the exact amount of money that Haman had said he would weigh out into the king’s treasuries for the destruction of the Jews.

8He also gave him a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for their destruction, to show it to Esther and explain it to her, and to charge her to go to the king, implore his favor, and plead before him on behalf of her people.

9So Hathach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.

10Then Esther spoke to Hathach and commanded him to go to Mordecai.

11All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that for any man or woman who goes to the king in the inner court without being summoned, there is one law for him: to be put to death, except for the one to whom the king extends the golden scepter, so that he may live. But as for me, I have not been summoned to go in to the king these thirty days.

12And they told Mordecai Esther’s words.

13Then Mordecai said to reply to Esther, “Do not imagine that you alone of all the Jews will escape in the king’s house.

14For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have come to your royal position for a time like this?

15Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai:

16Go, gather all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night and day. I and my young women also will fast in the same way. Then I will go to the king, though it is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.

17So Mordecai went away and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.