4 But Mordekai, having perceived what was done, tore his clothes, put on 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 these 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]