1 Q uando Mardoqueu soube tudo quanto se havia passado, rasgou as suas vestes, vestiu-se de saco e de cinza, e saiu pelo meio da cidade, clamando com grande e amargo clamor;

When Mordecai learned all that had been done, he tore his clothes. He dressed in cloth made from hair and put on ashes, and went out into the city and cried with loud cries.

2 e chegou até diante da porta do rei, pois ninguém vestido de saco podia entrar elas portas do rei.

He went as far as the king’s gate, for no one was to go through the king’s gate wearing cloth made from hair.

3 E m todas as províncias aonde chegava a ordem do rei, e o seu decreto, havia entre os judeus grande pranto, com jejum, e choro, e lamentação; e muitos se deitavam em saco e em cinza.

There was much sorrow among the Jews in each and every part of the nation where the king’s law was made known. They went without food and cried with sounds of sorrow. Many lay in cloth made from hair and in ashes.

4 Q uando vieram as moças de Ester e os eunucos lho fizeram saber, a rainha muito se entristeceu; e enviou roupa para Mardoqueu, a fim de que, despindo-lhe o saco, lha vestissem; ele, porém, não a aceitou.

Then Esther’s women and men servants came and told her, and the queen was very troubled. She sent clothes for Mordecai to wear, that he might take off his clothes made from hair. But he would not take them.

5 E ntão Ester mandou chamar Hataque, um dos eunucos do rei, que este havia designado para a servir, e o mandou ir ter com Mardoqueu para saber que era aquilo, e por que era.

Then Esther called Hathach from the king’s servants whom the king had chosen to help her. She told him to go to Mordecai and find out what was wrong and why.

6 H ataque, pois, saiu a ter com Mardoqueu ã praça da cidade, diante da porta do rei;

So Hathach went out to Mordecai at the king’s gate in the open space of the city.

7 e Mardoqueu lhe fez saber tudo quanto lhe tinha sucedido, como também a soma exata do dinheiro que Hamã prometera pagar ao tesouro do rei pela destruição dos judeus.

And Mordecai told him all that had happened to him. He told him just how much money Haman had promised to pay to the king’s store-houses to have the Jews destroyed.

8 T ambém lhe deu a cópia do decreto escrito que se publicara em susã para os destruir, para que a mostrasse a Ester, e lha explicasse, ordenando-lhe que fosse ter com o rei, e lhe pedisse misericórdia e lhe fizesse súplica ao seu povo.

He also gave him one of the letters of the law that was sent out from Susa to destroy the Jews, that he might show it to Esther and let her know. And he said that she should go in to the king and beg him to show favor to her people.

9 V eio, pois, Hataque, e referiu a Ester as palavras de Mardoqueu.

Hathach went and told Esther what Mordecai had said.

10 E ntão falou Ester a Hataque, mandando-o dizer a Mardoqueu:

Then Esther told Hathach to say to Mordecai,

11 T odos os servos do rei, e o povo das províncias do rei, bem sabem que, para todo homem ou mulher que entrar ã presença do rei no pátio interior sem ser chamado, não há senão uma sentença, a de morte, a menos que o rei estenda para ele o cetro de ouro, para que viva; mas eu já há trinta dias não sou chamada para entrar a ter com o rei.

“All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s nation know that he has one law for any man or woman who comes to him in his room who has not been called: They will be put to death, unless the king holds out his special golden stick to him so that he may live. And I have not been called to come to the king for these thirty days.”

12 E referiram a Mardoqueu as palavras de Ester.

Then Mordecai was told what Esther had said.

13 E ntão Mardoqueu mandou que respondessem a Ester: Não imagines que, por estares no palácio do rei, terás mais sorte para escapar do que todos os outros judeus.

Mordecai answered, “Do not think that you in the king’s special house will live any more than all the other Jews.

14 P ois, se de todo te calares agora, de outra parte se levantarão socorro e livramento para os judeus, mas tu e a casa de teu pai perecereis; e quem sabe se não foi para tal tempo como este que chegaste ao reino?

For if you keep quiet at this time, help will come to the Jews from another place. But you and your father’s house will be destroyed. Who knows if you have not become queen for such a time as this?”

15 D e novo Ester mandou-os responder a Mardoqueu:

Then Esther told them to say to Mordecai,

16 V ai, ajunta todos os judeus que se acham em Susã, e jejuai por mim, e não comais nem bebais por três dias, nem de noite nem de dia; e eu e as minhas moças também assim jejuaremos. Depois irei ter com o rei, ainda que isso não é segundo a lei; e se eu perecer, pereci.

“Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and have them all go without food so they can pray better for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my women servants will go without food in the same way. Then I will go in to the king, which is against the law. And if I die, I die.”

17 E ntão Mardoqueu foi e fez conforme tudo quanto Ester lhe ordenara.

So Mordecai went away and did just as Esther had told him.