1 A nd when Mordecai knew all that was done, Mordecai rent his garments, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and bitter cry,

When Mordecai learned all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city and wailed loudly and bitterly.

2 a nd came even before the king's gate; for none might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.

He went as far as the king’s gate, for no one was to enter the king’s gate clothed in sackcloth.

3 A nd in every province, wherever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing: many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

In each and every province where the command and decree of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing; and many lay on sackcloth and ashes.

4 A nd Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told her; and the queen was exceedingly grieved: and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him; but he received not.

Then Esther’s maidens and her eunuchs came and told her, and the queen writhed in great anguish. And she sent garments to clothe Mordecai that he might remove his sackcloth from him, but he did not accept them.

5 T hen Esther called for Hatach, of the king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed to wait upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was.

Then Esther summoned Hathach from the king’s eunuchs, whom the king had appointed to attend her, and ordered him to go to Mordecai to learn what this was and why it was.

6 A nd Hatach went forth to Mordecai, unto the public place of the city which was before the king's gate.

So Hathach went out to Mordecai to the city square in front of the king’s gate.

7 A nd Mordecai told him of all that had happened to him, and of the sum of money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.

Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the exact amount of money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the destruction of the Jews.

8 A nd he gave him a copy of the writing of the decree that had been given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew to Esther, and to declare to her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication to him, and to make request before him, for her people.

He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict which had been issued in Susa for their destruction, that he might show Esther and inform her, and to order her to go in to the king to implore his favor and to plead with him for her people.

9 A nd Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.

Hathach came back and related Mordecai’s words to Esther.

10 A nd Esther spoke to Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai:

Then Esther spoke to Hathach and ordered him to reply to Mordecai:

11 A ll the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces do know that whoever, whether man or woman, shall come to the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law, to put to death, except to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live; and I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.

“All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that for any man or woman who comes to the king to the inner court who is not summoned, he has but one law, that he be put to death, unless the king holds out to him the golden scepter so that he may live. And I have not been summoned to come to the king for these thirty days.”

12 A nd they told Mordecai Esther's words.

They related Esther’s words to Mordecai.

13 A nd Mordecai bade to answer Esther: Imagine not in thy heart that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.

Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews.

14 F or if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there arise relief and deliverance to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall perish. And who knows whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?” Esther Plans to Intercede

15 A nd Esther bade to answer Mordecai:

Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai,

16 G o, gather together all the Jews that are found in Shushan, and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise, and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.

“Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens also will fast in the same way. And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.”

17 A nd Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.

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