1 When Mordecai {Mordecai: Esther’s cousin and guardian} became aware of all that had transpired, he tore his garments, put on sackcloth and ashes, went out into the heart of the city, and let out a loud, bitter cry {ze‘aqah: desperate appeal}.
2 He went as far as the entrance of the king’s gate, because no one was allowed to enter {lavo: to come in} the king’s gate while wearing sackcloth {sak: coarse mourning garment}.
3 In every province {medinah: administrative region}—every place where the king’s order and his decree arrived—there was great mourning among the Jews with fasting, weeping, and lamentation; and for many people, sackcloth and ashes were laid out beneath them {yutsa: public display}.
4 Esther’s maidens and her eunuchs came and reported it to her, and the queen {hamalkah: royal title} was greatly distressed {meod: intensely}. She sent clothing to dress Mordecai and to remove his sackcloth from him, but he would not accept it.
5 Then Esther {ester: Queen of Persia} called for Hathach, one of the king’s {melekh: royal authority} eunuchs appointed to attend her, and she ordered him to go to Mordecai and find out what this meant and why it was happening.
6 So Hatach {hatakh: Esther’s attendant} went out to Mordecai in the open square {rechov: public forum} of the city before the king’s gate.
7 Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the full account {parashat: documented report} of the money that Haman had said he would weigh out {lishkol: weigh out as payment} into the king’s treasuries concerning the Jews, to destroy them.
8 Mordecai gave him the copy {patshegen: official duplicate} of the written decree issued in Shushan for their destruction, to present it to Esther and to explain it to her, and to direct her to go to the king to beg his favor and to request on behalf of her people {al-ammah: her own people}.
9 Then Hathach {Hathach: queen’s attendant} came and told Esther the announcement {divrei: formal message} from Mordecai.
10 Then Esther said to Hathach and commanded {tsavah: firm directive} him to go to Mordecai {Mordekhai: cousin and adoptive father} and to say:
11 All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces {medinot: administrative regions} know that there is one law for any man or woman who enters the king’s inner court without being summoned: they must be put to death, unless the king extends the golden scepter {sharvit: ceremonial staff of authority} toward them, and they shall live. But I have not been summoned to come to the king these thirty days.
12 And they reported {higgidu: Formal Announcement} to Mordecai the words {dibrei: Spoken Messages} of Esther.
13 And Mordecai said to send back {lehashiv: formal reply} to Esther, “Do not imagine in your soul {nefesh: seat of life} that because you are in the king’s house you will escape any more than all the Jews.”
14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief {revach: rescue opportunity} and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have come to the kingdom {malkhut: realm of authority} for a time like this?
15 Then Esther {Esther: Queen Advocate} commanded a reply {lehashiv: to return an answer} to Mordecai.
16 Go, gather all the Jews who are in Shushan, and fast {tzum: abstain from food and drink} for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night and day. My young women and I will fast likewise. Then I will go to the king {melech: royal authority}, though it is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.
17 So Mordecai set out and did everything that Esther {'ester: concealed one} had commanded {tsiv'tah: authoritative order} him.