Esther

Chapter 4

1  The great mourning of Mordecai and the Jews.  4  Esther, understanding it, sendeth to Mordecai, who sheweth the cause, and adviseth her to understand the suit.  10  She excusing herself is threatened by Mordecai.  15  She appointing a fast undertaketh the suit.

4:1 ¶ When Mordecai {4782} perceived {3045} <8804> (853) all (3605) that (834) was done, {6213} <8738> Mordecai {4782} rent {7167} <8799> (853) his clothes, {899} and put on {3847} <8799> sackcloth {8242} with ashes, {665} and went out {3318} <8799> into the midst {8432} of the city, {5892} and cried {2199} <8799> with a loud {1419} and a bitter {4751} cry; {2201}

4:2 And came {935} <8799> even (5704) before {6440} the king's {4428} gate: {8179} for (3588) none (369) [might] enter {935} <8800> into (413) the king's {4428} gate {8179} clothed {3830} with sackcloth. {8242}

4:3 And in every (3605) province, {4082} whithersoever {4725} (834) the king's {4428} commandment {1697} and his decree {1881} came, {5060} <8688> [there was] great {1419} mourning {60} among the Jews, {3064} and fasting, {6685} and weeping, {1065} and wailing; {4553} and many {7227} lay {3331} <8714> in sackcloth {8242} and ashes. {665}

4:4 ¶ So Esther's {635} maids {5291} and her chamberlains {5631} came {935} <8799> and told {5046} <8686> [it] her. Then was the queen {4436} exceedingly {3966} grieved; {2342} <8698> and she sent {7971} <8799> raiment {899} to clothe {3847} <8687> (853) Mordecai, {4782} and to take away {5493} <8687> his sackcloth {8242} from (4480) (5921) him: but he received {6901} <8765> [it] not. (3808)

4:5 Then called {7121} <8799> Esther {635} for Hatach, {2047} [one] of the king's {4428} chamberlains, {5631} (4480) whom (834) he had appointed {5975} <8689> to attend [6440] upon (6440) her, and gave him a commandment {6680} <8762> to (5921) Mordecai, {4782} to know {3045} <8800> what (4100) it (2088) [was], and why (5921) (4100) it (2088) [was].

4:6 So Hatach {2047} went forth {3318} <8799> to (413) Mordecai {4782} unto (413) the street {7339} of the city, {5892} which (834) [was] before {6440} the king's {4428} gate. {8179}

4:7 And Mordecai {4782} told {5046} <8686> him of (853) all (3605) that (834) had happened {7136} <8804> unto him, and (853) of the sum {6575} of the money {3701} that (834) Haman {2001} had promised {559} <8804> to pay {8254} <8800> to (5921) the king's {4428} treasuries {1595} for the Jews, {3064} to destroy {6} <8763> them.

4:8 Also he gave {5414} <8804> him the copy {6572} of the writing {3791} of the decree {1881} that (834) was given {5414} <8738> at Shushan {7800} to destroy {8045} <8687> them, to shew {7200} <8687> [it] unto (853) Esther, {635} and to declare {5046} <8687> [it] unto her, and to charge {6680} <8763> her (5921) that she should go in {935} <8800> unto (413) the king, {4428} to make supplication {2603} <8692> unto him, and to make request {1245} <8763> before {6440} (4480) him for (5921) her people. {5971}

4:9 And Hatach {2047} came {935} <8799> and told {5046} <8686> Esther {635} (853) the words {1697} of Mordecai. {4782}

4:10 ¶ Again Esther {635} spake {559} <8799> unto Hatach, {2047} and gave him commandment {6680} <8762> unto (413) Mordecai; {4782}

4:11 All (3605) the king's {4428} servants, {5650} and the people {5971} of the king's {4428} provinces, {4082} do know, {3045} <8802> that (834) whosoever, (3605) (834) whether (834) man {376} or woman, {802} shall come {935} <8799> unto (413) the king {4428} into (413) the inner {6442} court, {2691} who (834) is not (3808) called, {7121} <8735> [there is] one {259} law {1881} of his to put [him] to death, {4191} <8687> except {905} such to whom (4480) (834) the king {4428} shall hold out {3447} <8686> (853) the golden {2091} sceptre, {8275} that he may live: {2421} <8804> but I (589) have not (3808) been called {7121} <8738> to come in {935} <8800> unto (413) the king {4428} these (2088) thirty {7970} days. {3117}

4:12 And they told {5046} <8686> to Mordecai {4782} (853) Esther's {635} words. {1697}

4:13 Then Mordecai {4782} commanded {559} <8799> to answer {7725} <8687> (413) Esther, {635} Think {1819} <8762> not (408) with thyself {5315} that thou shalt escape {4422} <8736> in the king's {4428} house, {1004} more than all (4480) (3605) the Jews. {3064}

4:14 For (3588) if (518) thou altogether [2790] <8687> holdest thy peace {2790} <8686> at this (2063) time, {6256} [then] shall there enlargement {7305} and deliverance {2020} arise {5975} <8799> to the Jews {3064} from another [312] place; {4725} (4480) (312) but thou (859) and thy father's {1} house {1004} shall be destroyed: {6} <8799> and who (4310) knoweth {3045} <8802> whether (518) thou art come {5060} <8689> to the kingdom {4438} for [such] a time {6256} as this? (2063)

4:15 ¶ Then Esther {635} bade {559} <8799> [them] return {7725} <8687> (413) Mordecai {4782} [this answer],

4:16 Go, [3212] <8798> (1980) gather together {3664} <8798> (853) all (3605) the Jews {3064} that are present {4672} <8737> in Shushan, {7800} and fast {6684} <8798> ye for (5921) me, and neither (408) eat {398} <8799> nor (408) drink {8354} <8799> three {7969} days, {3117} night {3915} or day: {3117} I (589) also (1571) and my maidens {5291} will fast {6684} <8799> likewise; (3651) and so {3651} will I go [935] <8799> in (935) unto (413) the king, {4428} which (834) [is] not (3808) according to the law: {1881} and if (834) I perish, {6} <8804> I perish. {6} <8804>

4:17 So Mordecai {4782} went his way, {5674} <8799> and did {6213} <8799> according to all (3605) that (834) Esther {635} had commanded {6680} <8765> him. (5921)