17 And Mordecai went and did as Esther had commanded him. And he prayed to the Lord, remembering all the works of the Lord, and said, Lord, Lord, King, Almighty. All things are in Thy power, and there is none that resist Thee, when Thou wilt save Israel. Thou hast created the heavens and the earth, and all that is wondrous in the heavenly places. Thou art the Lord of all, and there is none that can resist Thee the Lord. that I did not worship the vain Haman, for I would gladly kiss the footprints of his feet for the salvation of Israel; but I did this in order not to give glory to man above the glory of God, and not to worship anyone but Thee my Lord, and I will not do this out of pride. And now, O Lord God, O King, God of Abraham, have mercy on Thy people; for they plot our destruction, and want to destroy Thy original inheritance; do not despise Thy inheritance, which Thou hast delivered for Thyself out of the land of Egypt; Hear my prayer and have compassion on Thy inheritance, and turn our lamentation into gladness, that we may sing Thy name as we live, O Lord, and destroy not the lips that glorify Thee, O Lord. And all Israel cried out with all their might, because their death was before their eyes. And Queen Esther ran to the Lord, overwhelmed with mortal sorrow, and having taken off the garments of her glory, she put on the garments of sorrow and mourning, and instead of precious oils, she sprinkled ashes and dust on her head, and she wore out her body exceedingly, and covered every place that was adorned with her joy with her loose hair, and prayed to the Lord God of Israel, saying, My Lord! Thou art our only King; help me, lonely and having no helper but Thee; for my trouble is near me. I have heard, O Lord, from my father in my own tribe, that thou, O Lord, hast chosen unto thee Israel out of all nations, and our fathers out of all their forefathers for an everlasting inheritance, and hast done for them that which thou hast spoken unto them. righteous art Thou, O Lord! But now they are not content with our bitter bondage, but have put their hands into the hands of their idols, to overthrow the commandment of Thy mouth, and to destroy Thy inheritance, and to shut up the mouths of those who praise Thee, and to extinguish the glory of Thy temple and Thy altar, and to open the mouths of the nations to glorify vain gods, and to magnify the king of the flesh for ever. Do not betray Thy sceptre, O Lord, to the gods that do not exist, and let them not rejoice at our fall, but turn their plan against themselves: but deliver up the scepter against us to shame. Remember, O Lord, show Thyself to us in our sorrow, and give me courage. King of gods and Lord of all rulers! Give to my lips a word of favor before this lion, and fill his heart with hatred for him who persecutes us, to the destruction of him and his like-minded people; but deliver us by Thy hand, and help me, who am lonely and have no helper but Thee, O Lord. Thou hast knowledge of all things, and knowest that I hate the glory of the wicked, and abhor the bed of the uncircumcised and every foreigner; Thou knowest my necessity, that I abhor the mark of my pride, which is upon my head in the days of my appearance, I abhor it as a garment defiled with blood, and I do not wear it in the days of my solitude. And Thy servant has not eaten of Haman's table, nor treasured the king's feast, nor drunk the wine sacrificed to idols, nor hast Thy servant rejoiced since the day of the change of my fortune until now, except in Thee, O Lord God of Abraham. God, who has power over all! Hear the voice of the hopeless, and deliver us from the hand of the wicked, and deliver me from my fear.]

5

1 On the third day, Esther [having ceased to pray, took off the garments of mourning, and] dressed herself royally, [and having become magnificent, calling upon the all-seeing God and Saviour, she took two maidservants, and leaned on the one, as if given over to bliss, and the other followed her, supporting her garments. And she stood in the inner court of the king's house, before the king's house; And the king then sat on his royal throne, in the king's house, directly opposite the entrance to the house, [clothed in all the garments of his majesty, all in gold and precious stones, and was very terrible]. When the king saw Queen Esther standing in the courtyard, she found mercy in his eyes. Turning his countenance, which was aflame with glory, he looked up with great anger, and the queen was discouraged, and her countenance was changed from weakness, and she bowed down on the head of the maidservant who accompanied her. And God changed the king's spirit to meekness, and he rose up hastily from his throne, and took her into his arms until she came to herself. And he said unto her, What hath thou done, Esther? I am thy brother; Be of good cheer, you will not die, for our dominion is common; Come.]

2 And the king stretched out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand, and Esther came and touched the end of the scepter, and put the scepter on her neck, and kissed her, and said, Speak unto me. And she said, I have seen in thee, O lord, as an angel of God, and my heart is troubled for fear of thy glory, for thou art wonderful; Lord, and your face is full of grace. "But during the conversation she fell down from weakness; and the king was troubled, and all his servants comforted her.

3 And the king said to her, 'What have you to do, Esther the queen, and what is your request?' Even up to a half-kingdom will be given to you.

4 And Esther said, If it pleases the king, let the king come with Haman this day to the feast which I have prepared for him.

5 And the king said, 'Go quickly after Haman, that you may do according to the word of Esther.' And the king came with Haman to the feast that Esther had prepared.

6 And king said to Esther, while they were drinking wine, 'What desire is thy desire?' it will be satisfied; And what is your request? at least to a half-kingdom, it will be fulfilled.

7 And Esther answered, and said, 'This is my desire and my request:

8 If I have found favor in the king's eyes, and if the king is pleased to grant my desire, and to grant my request, then let the king and Haman come to the feast which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will fulfill the king's word.

9 And Haman went out that day cheerful and good-natured. But when Haman saw Mordecai at the king's gate, and he did not rise and move before him, then Haman was filled with anger against Mordecai.

10 Yet Haman was sealed. And when he came to his house, he sent to call his friends and Zeresh, his wife.

11 And Haman told them of his great riches, and of the multitude of his sons, and of all things, how the king had magnified him, and how he had exalted him above the princes and servants of the king.

12 And Haman said, "And Esther the queen has not invited anyone with the king to the feast which she has prepared, except me; so on the morrow I am called to her with the king.