OET-RV ESG Chapter 4

4 But Mordekai, having perceived what was done, tore his clothes, put on coarse, abrasive sackcloth, and sprinkled dust on himself. Having rushed forth through the open street of the city, he cried with a loud voice, “A nation that’s done no wrong is going to be destroyed!” 2 He came to the king’s gate, and stood; for it wasn’t lawful for him to enter into the palace wearing sackcloth and ashes. 3 And in every province where the letters were published, there was crying, lamentation, and great mourning on the part of the Yehudim. They wore sackcloth and ashes. 4 The queen’s maids and chamberlains went in and told her; and when she’d heard what was done, she was deeply troubled. She sent clothes to Mordekai to replace his sackcloth, but he refused. 5 So Ester called for her chamberlain Hatak, who waited on her; and she sent to learn the truth from Mordekai. 7 Mordekai showed him what was done, and the promise which Haman had made the king of ten thousand talents to be paid into the treasury, that he might destroy the Yehudim. 8 And he gave him the copy of what was published in Shushan about their destruction to show to Ester; and told him to charge her to go in and entreat the king, and to beg him for the people. “Remember, he said, the days of your humble condition, how you were nursed by my hand; because Haman, who holds the next place to the king, has spoken against us to cause our death. Call on the master, and speak to the king about us, to deliver us from death.”

9 So Hatak went in and told her all those words. 10 Ester said to Hatak, “Go to Mordekai, and say, 11 ‘All the nations of the empire know that any man or woman who goes in to the king into the inner courtyard without being called, that person must die, unless the king stretches out his golden sceptre; then he’ll live. I haven’t been called to go into the king for thirty days.’ ”

12 So Hatak reported to Mordekai all Ester’s words. 13 Then Mordekai said to Hatak, “Go, and say to her, ‘Ester, don’t say to yourself that you alone will escape in the kingdom, more than all the other Yehudim. 14 Because if you keep quiet on this occasion, help and protection will come to the Yehudim from another place; but you and your father’s house will perish. Who knows if you’ve been made queen for this occasion?’ ”

15 And Ester sent the messenger who came to her to Mordekai, saying, 16 “Go and assemble the Yehudim that are in Shushan (Susa), and all of you fast for me. Don’t eat or drink for three days, night and day. My maidens and I’ll also fast. Then I’ll go in to the king contrary to the law, even if I must die.”

17 So Mordekai went and did all that Ester commanded him.[fn]

18 [He prayed to the master, making mention of all the master’s works. 19 He said, “master God, you’re king ruling over all, for all things are in your power, and there’s no one who can oppose you in your purpose to save Yisrael (Israel); 20 for you’ve made the heaven and the earth and every wonderful thing under heaven. 21 You’re master of all, and there’s no one who can resist you, master. 22 You know all things. You know, master, that it isn’t in insolence, nor arrogance, nor love of glory, that I’ve done this, to refuse to bow down to the arrogant Haman. 23 Because I’d gladly have kissed the soles of his feet for the safety of Yisrael. 24 But I’ve done this that I might not set the glory of man above God’s glory. I won’t worship anyone except you, my master, and I won’t do these things in arrogance. 25 And now, Oh master God, the King, the god of Avraham, spare your people, for our enemies are planning our destruction, and they’ve desired to destroy your ancient inheritance. 26 Don’t overlook your people, whom you’ve redeemed for yourself out of Mitsrayim (Egypt). 27 Listen to my prayer. Have mercy on your inheritance and turn our mourning into gladness, that we may live and sing praise to your name, Oh master. Don’t utterly destroy the mouth of those who praise you, Oh master.”

28 All Yisrael cried with all their might, for death was before their eyes.

29 And queen Ester took refuge in the master, being taken as it were in the agony of death. 30 Having taken off her glorious clothing, she put on clothes of distress and mourning. Instead of grand perfumes she filled her head with ashes and dung. She greatly humbled her body, and she filled every place of her glad adorning with her tangled hair. 31 She implored the master God of Yisrael, and said, “Oh my master, you alone are our king. Help me. I’m destitute, and have no helper but you, 32 for my danger is near at hand.[fn] 33 I’ve heard from my birth in the tribe of my kindred that you, master, took Yisrael out of all the nations, and our fathers out of all their kindred for a perpetual inheritance, and have done for them all that you’ve said. 34 And now we’ve sinned before you, and you’ve delivered us into our enemies’ hands, 35 because we honoured their gods. You’re righteous, Oh master. 36 But now they haven’t been content with the bitterness of our slavery, but have laid their hands on the hands of their idols 37 to abolish the decree of your mouth, and utterly to destroy your inheritance, and to stop the mouth of those who praise you, and to extinguish the glory of your house and your altar, 38 and to open the mouth of the Gentiles to speak the[fn] praises of vanities, and that a mortal king should be admired forever. 39 Oh master, don’t surrender your sceptre to those who don’t exist, and don’t let them laugh at our fall, but turn their counsel against themselves, and make an example of him who’s begun to injure us. 40 Remember us, Oh master! Manifest yourself in the time of our affliction. Encourage me, Oh King of gods, and ruler of all dominion! 41 Put harmonious speech into my mouth before the lion, and turn his heart to hate him who fights against us, to the utter destruction of those who agree with him. 42 But deliver us by your hand, and help me who am alone and have no one but you, Oh master. 43 You know all things, and know that I hate the glory of transgressors,[fn] and that I abhor the bed of the uncircumcised and of every stranger. 44 You know my necessity, for I abhor the symbol of my proud station, which is on my head in the days of my[fn] splendour. I abhor it as a menstruous cloth, and I don’t wear it in the days of my tranquillity. 45 Your handmaid hasn’t eaten at Haman’s table, and I haven’t honoured the banquet of the king, neither have I drunk wine of libations. 46 Neither has your handmaid rejoiced since the day of my promotion until now, except in you, Oh master God of Avraham. 47 Oh god, who has power over all, listen to the voice of the desperate, and deliver us from the hand of those who devise mischief. Deliver me from my fear.]