Chapter 4. When Mordecai learned all that had Happened he tore his clothes and put on Sackcloth and Ashes and went out into The midst of the city He cried out with a loud and bitter cry He went as far as the front of the King's gate for no one might enter the King's gate clothed with sackcloth And in every Province where the King's Command and decree arrived there was Great mourning among the Jews with Fasting weeping and wailing and many lay In sackcloth and Ashes So Esther's maids and eunuchs came and Told her And the queen was deeply distressed Then she sent garments to clothe Mordecai and take his sackcloth away From him But he would not accept them Then Esther called hathak one of the King's eunuchs whom he had appointed to Attend her And she gave him a command concerning Mordecai to learn what and why this was So hathak went out to Mordecai in the City square that was in front of the King's gate And Mordecai told him all that had Happened to him and the sum of money That Haman had promised to pay into the King's treasuries to destroy the Jews He also gave him a copy of the written
Decree for their destruction which was Given at shushan That he might show it to Esther and Explain it to her And that he might command her to go into The king to make supplication to him and Plead before him for her people So heathak returned and told Esther the Words of Mordecai Then Esther spoke to hathak and gave him A command for Mordecai All the king's servants and the people Of the king's provinces know that any Man or woman who goes into the inner Court to the king who has not been Called he has but one law Put all to death except the one to whom The king holds out the golden scepter That he may live Yet I myself have not been called in to Go to the king these 30 days So they told Mordecai Esther's words And Mordecai told them to answer Esther Do not think in your heart that you will Escape in the king's Palace any more Than all the other Jews For if you remain completely silent at This time Relief and deliverance will arise for The Jews from another place But you and your father's house will Perish Yet who knows whether you have come to The kingdom for such a time as this
Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai Go gather all the Jews who are present In shushan and fast for me Neither eat nor drink for three days Night or day My Maids and I will Fast likewise And so I will go to the King which is Against the law And if I perish I perish So Mordecai went his way and did According to all that Esther commanded Him