Esther 4

Mordecai Mourns

1When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, went out into the midst of the city, and cried out with a loud and bitter cry. 2He came as far as the front of the king’s gate, for no one was permitted to enter the king’s gate wearing sackcloth. 3In every province, wherever the king’s command and law reached, there was great mourning among the Judeans, with fasting, weeping, and lamentation. Sackcloth and ashes were spread out for many.

Esther Learns of Mordecai’s Distress

4Esther’s young women and her eunuchs came and told her, and the queen writhed greatly in distress. She sent garments to clothe Mordecai and remove his sackcloth from him, but he did not accept them. 5Then Esther called 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. 6Hathach went out to Mordecai in the city square that was before the king’s gate. 7Mordecai told him all that had happened to him and the exact amount of silver that Haman had said he would weigh into the king’s treasuries for the destruction of the Judeans. 8He also gave him a copy of the written law that had been issued in Susa for their destruction, to show Esther and tell her, and to command her to go to the king to seek his favor and plead before him for her people.

Esther Fears Going to the King

9Hathach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai. 10Then Esther spoke to Hathach and commanded him to say to Mordecai: 11“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 in the inner court without being called, there is one law: to put that person to death, unless the king extends the gold scepter so that the person may live. But I have not been called to come to the king these thirty days.” 12They told Mordecai Esther’s words.

For Such a Time as This

13Then Mordecai said to return this answer to Esther:

“Do not imagine in your life that you will escape in the king’s house more than all the other Judeans. 14For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Judeans from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have come to royal position for a time such as this?”

Fast for Me

15Then Esther said to return this answer to Mordecai: 16“Go, gather all the Judeans who are found in Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also 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 passed on and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.