Mardoqueu persuade a Ester a intervir
1Quando Mardoqueu soube do que tinha sido feito, rasgou os vestidos, cobriu-se com pano de saco e cinzas, e chorou amargamente em alta voz. 2Foi pôr-se diante do portão do palácio, pois não se deixava entrar ninguém vestido daquela maneira. 3Em todas as províncias, o clamor de angústia era enorme entre os judeus, que jejuavam e choravam desesperados, devido ao decreto do imperador; muitos puseram também roupas de pano de saco e cinzas sobre si.
4Quando as criadas de Ester e os eunucos vieram contar-lhe como Mardoqueu se encontrava, ela ficou profundamente entristecida e enviou-lhe roupas, para que se vestisse, mas ele recusou. 5Então Ester mandou chamar Hataque, um dos eunucos do rei que estava ao seu serviço, e disse-lhe que fosse ter com Mardoqueu para saber o que é que o perturbava, e por que razão estava a agir assim.
6Hataque dirigiu-se à praça em frente ao palácio e encontrou Mardoqueu junto do portão. 7Ouviu da boca dele toda a história, inclusivamente sobre o dinheiro que Hamã estava de acordo em pagar aos cofres reais para a destruição dos judeus. 8Mardoqueu deu também a Hataque um exemplar do decreto real que mandava executar todos os judeus, dizendo-lhe que o mostrasse a Ester, pondo-a ao corrente do que estava a acontecer, e avisando-a que deveria interceder junto do rei em favor do seu povo.
9Hataque voltou para junto de Ester com o recado de Mardoqueu. 10A rainha enviou-o outra vez a Mardoqueu para lhe dizer o seguinte: 11“Toda a gente sabe que qualquer homem ou mulher que tente entrar nos aposentos do rei, sem ser convocado, está condenado a morrer, a menos que o rei estenda o seu cetro de ouro. Acontece que o rei não me manda chamar, já faz mais de um mês.” 12Hataque transmitiu a Mardoqueu o que Ester lhe mandara dizer.
13Foi esta a resposta de Mardoqueu para Ester: “Pensas tu que por estares no palácio escaparás, quando todos os outros judeus forem mortos? 14Se te mantiveres calada numa situação destas, os judeus serão salvos de outra maneira, mas tu e os teus parentes morrerão. E quem sabe se não foi para um tempo como este que foste colocada nesta posição?”
15Ester mandou responder a Mardoqueu: 16“Manda reunir todos os judeus de Susã para um jejum; não comam nem bebam durante três dias, nem de noite nem de dia; eu e as minhas criadas faremos o mesmo. Ainda que seja estritamente proibido, irei ver o rei; e se tiver de morrer, que morra!” 17Mardoqueu fez como Ester lhe indicara.
1When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry; 2And came even before the king’s gate: for none might enter into the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth. 3And in every province, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.4.3 many…: Heb. sackcloth and ashes were laid under many
4¶ So Esther’s maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it not.4.4 chamberlains: Heb. eunuchs
5Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king’s chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was.4.5 appointed…: Heb. set before her 6So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king’s gate. 7And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them. 8Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people. 9And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.
10¶ Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai; 11All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days. 12And they told to Mordecai Esther’s words. 13Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews. 14For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?4.14 enlargement: Heb. respiration
15¶ Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, 16Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.4.16 present: Heb. found 17So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.4.17 went…: Heb. passed
