3 Likewise, in every province and place, whither the king's command and his decree reached, there was great lamentation among the Jews, and fasting, and mourning, and wailing; sackcloth and ashes served as a bed for many.

4 And Esther's maidservants and her eunuchs came and told her, and the queen was greatly troubled. And she sent garments for Mordecai to put them on, and to take off his sackcloth. But he did not accept it.

5 Then Esther called Hatha, one of the king's eunuchs, whom he had assigned to her, and sent him to Mordecai, to inquire what is this, and why is it?

6 And Gathach went to Mordecai, in the city square, which is before the king's gate.

7 And Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and of a certain amount of silver, which Haman had promised to weigh into the king's treasury for the sake of Judah, to destroy them.

8 And he gave him a copy of the decree promulgated in Shushan concerning their destruction, to show Esther, and to let her know of all things. And he commanded her to go to the king, and beg him for mercy, and to ask him for mercy on behalf of her people, [remembering the days of her humility, when she was brought up under my hand, because Haman, the second in king, condemned us to death, and that she should call upon the Lord, and tell the king about us, that he may deliver us from death].

9 And Gathach came and told Esther what Mordecai had said.

10 And Esther said to Hathach, and sent him to say to Mordecai,

11 All those who serve under the king, and the nations in the king's provinces, know that whosoever shall enter into the king's court without being summoned, shall have only one judgment, and that shall be death. only he to whom the king stretches out his golden scepter will live. And I have not been summoned to the king for thirty days.

12 And they told Mordecai the words of Esther.

13 And Mordecai answered and said to Esther, 'Do not think that you alone will be saved in the king's house of all the Jews.'

14 If thou shalt remain silent at this time, liberty and deliverance shall come to the Jews from another place, and thou and thy father's house shall perish. And who knows, is it not for such a time that you have attained the dignity of a king?

15 And Esther answered and said to Mordecai,

16 Go and gather together all the Jews who are in Shushan and fast for my sake, and ye shall not eat or drink three days, day or night, and I and my maidservants will also fast, and then I will go to the king, though it be against the law, and if I perish, I will perish.