1 C uando supo Mardoqueo todo lo que se había hecho, rasgó sus vestidos, y se vistió de cilicio y de ceniza, y se fue por en medio de la ciudad clamando con grande y 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 Y vino hasta delante de la puerta del rey; porque no era lícito pasar adentro de la puerta del rey con vestido de cilicio.

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 Y en cada provincia donde el mandamiento del rey y su ley llegaba, tenían los judíos grande luto, ayuno, lloro, y lamentación; cilicio y ceniza era la cama de muchos.

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 Y vinieron las doncellas de Ester y sus eunucos, y se lo dijeron; y la reina tuvo gran dolor, y envió vestidos para hacer vestir a Mardoqueo, y hacerle quitar el cilicio de sobre él; mas él no los recibió.

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 ntonces Ester llamó a Hatac, uno de los eunucos del rey, que él había puesto al servicio de ella, y lo mandó a Mardoqueo, para saber qué era aquello, y por qué.

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 S alió, pues, Hatac a Mardoqueo, a la plaza de la ciudad que estaba delante de la puerta del rey.

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

7 Y Mardoqueo le declaró todo lo que le había acontecido, y le dio noticia de la plata que Amán había dicho que pesaría para los tesoros del rey por razón de los judíos, para destruirlos.

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 L e dio también la copia de la escritura del decreto que había sido dado en Susa para que fueran destruidos, a fin de que la mostrara a Ester y se lo declarare, y le encargara que fuera al rey a suplicarle, y a pedir delante de él por su pueblo.

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 Y vino Hatac, y contó a Ester las palabra de Mardoqueo.

Hathach went and told Esther what Mordecai had said.

10 E ntonces Ester dijo a Hatac, y le mandó decir a Mardoqueo:

Then Esther told Hathach to say to Mordecai,

11 T odos los siervos del rey, y el pueblo de las provincias del rey saben, que todo varón o mujer que entra al rey al patio de adentro sin ser llamado, por una sola ley ha de morir; salvo aquel a quien el rey extendiere la vara de oro, el cual vivirá; y yo no he sido llamada para entrar al rey estos treinta días.

“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 Y dijeron a Mardoqueo las palabras de Ester.

Then Mordecai was told what Esther had said.

13 E ntonces dijo Mardoqueo que respondieran a Ester: No pienses en tu alma, que escaparás en la casa del rey más que todos los judíos.

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

14 P orque si absolutamente callares en este tiempo, respiro y liberación tendrán los judíos de otra parte; mas tú y la casa de tu padre pereceréis. ¿Y quién sabe si para esta hora has llegado al 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 Y Ester dijo que respondieran a Mardoqueo:

Then Esther told them to say to Mordecai,

16 V e, y junta a todos los judíos que se hallan en Susa, y ayunad por mí, y no comáis ni bebáis en tres días, noche ni día; yo también con mis doncellas ayunaré igualmente, y así entraré al rey, aunque no sea conforme a la ley; y si perezco, que perezca.

“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 ntonces se fue Mardoqueo, e hizo conforme a todo lo que le mandó Ester.

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