1 Which things when Mardocheus had heard, he rent his garments, and was clothed with sackcloth, sprinkling ashes on his head: and in the street of the midst of the city he cried with a loud voice, shewing the anguish of his mind,
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, showing the anguish of his mind.
2 and with this wailing going even to the doors of the palace: for it was not lawful for one clothed with sack-cloth to enter the king's court.
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 In all Provinces also, towns, and places, to which the king's cruel decree was come, there was great mourning with the Jews, fasting, howling, and weeping, many using sack-cloth and ashes for their couch.
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 And Esther's maids and the eunuchs went in, & told her. Which she hearing was astonished: & she sent a garment, that the sack-cloth being taken away, they should put it on him: which he would not take.
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 calling for Athach the eunuch, whom the king had given her for a servant to Mardocheus, commanded him to go and to learn of him, why he did this.
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 forth went to Mardocheus standing in the street of the city before the palace door:
6 And Athach going out went to Mardochai, who was standing in the street of the city, before the palace gate:
7 who told him all things that had chanced, how Aman had promised, that he would bring silver into the king's treasures for the slaughter of the Jews.
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 hung in Susan, that he should shew it to the queen, and should admonish her to enter in to the king, and to entreat him for her people.
8 He gave him also a copy of the edict which was hanging up in Susan, that he should show it to the queen, and admonish her to go in to the king, and to entreat him for her people.
9 Athach returning told Esther all things, that Mardocheus had said.
9 And Athach went back and told Esther all that Mardochai had said.
10 Who answered him, and bade that he should say to Mardocheus:
10 She answered him, and bade him say to Mardochai:
11 All the king's servants, and all the Provinces that are under his dominion, know, that whether man, or woman, not called, shall enter in to the king's inner court, he must immediately be slain without all delay: unless perhaps the king stretch forth a golden rod unto him, for a sign of clemency, and so he may live. I therefore how can I enter in to the king, which now these thirty days have not been called unto him?
11 All 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 scepter 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 Which when Mardocheus had heard,
12 And when Mardochai had heard this,
13 he sent word to Esther again, saying: Think not that thou mayst deliver thy own life only, because thou art in the king's house, above all the Jews:
13 He sent word to Esther again, saying: Think not that thou mayst save thy life only, because thou art in the king’s house, more than all the Jews:
14 for if thou wilt now hold thy peace, the Jews shall be delivered by another occasion: and thou, and thy father's house shall perish. And who knoweth whether thou camest to the Kingdom therefore, that in such a time thou mightest be ready?
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 Mardocheus in these words:
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. Eat ye not, and drink not in three days, and three nights: and I with my handmaids in like manner will fast, and then will I go in to the king, doing against the law, not called, and delivering myself to death and to peril.
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 Mardocheus therefore went, and did all things that Esther had commanded him.
17 So Mardochai went, and did all that Esther had commanded him.