1995 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Esther 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 learned 3045 all 3605 that had been done 6213a, he tore 7167 his clothes 899b, put 3847 on sackcloth 8242 and ashes 665, and went 3318 out into the midst 8432 of the city 5892b and wailed 2199 loudly 1419 and bitterly 4751.

 4:2 He went 935 as far 5704 as the king’s 4428 gate 8179, for no 369 one 369 was to enter 935 the king’s 4428 gate 8179 clothed 3830 in sackcloth 8242.

 4:3 In each 4082 and every 3605 province 4082 where 4725 834 the command 1697 and decree 1881 of the king 4428 came 5060, there was great 1419 mourning 60 among the Jews 3064, with fasting 6685, weeping 1065 and wailing 4553; and many 7227a lay 3331 on sackcloth 8242 and ashes 665.

 4:4 ¶ Then Esther’s 635 maidens 5291 and her eunuchs 5631 came 935 and told 5046 her, and the queen 4436 writhed 2342a in great 3966 anguish. And she sent 7971 garments 899b to clothe 3847 Mordecai 4782 that he might remove 5493 his sackcloth 8242 from him, but he did not accept 6901 [them].

 4:5 Then Esther 635 summoned 7121 Hathach 2047 from the king’s 4428 eunuchs 5631, whom 834 the king had appointed 5975 to attend 6440 her, and ordered 6680 him [to go] to Mordecai 4782 to learn 3045 what 4100 this 2088 [was] and why 4100 it [was].

 4:6 So Hathach 2047 went 3318 out to Mordecai 4782 to the city 5892b square 7339 in front 6440 of the king’s 4428 gate 8179.

 4:7 Mordecai 4782 told 5046 him all 3605 that had happened 7136a to him, and the exact 6575 amount 6575 of money 3701 that Haman 2001b had promised 559 to pay 8254 to the king’s 4428 treasuries 1595 for the destruction 6 of the Jews 3064.

 4:8 He also gave 5414 him a copy 6572 of the text 3791 of the edict 1881 which 834 had been issued 5414 in Susa 7800 for their destruction 8045, that he might show 7200 Esther 635 and inform 5046 her, and to order 6680 her to go 935 in to the king 4428 to implore 2603a his favor 2603a and to plead 1245 with him for her people 5971a.

 4:9 ¶ Hathach 2047 came 935 back and related 5046 Mordecai’s 4782 words 1697 to Esther 635.

 4:10 Then Esther 635 spoke 559 to Hathach 2047 and ordered 6680 him [to reply] to Mordecai 4782:

 4:11 “All 3605 the king’s 4428 servants 5650 and the people 5971a of the king’s 4428 provinces 4082 know 3045 that for any 3605 man 376 or woman 802 who 834 comes 935 to the king 4428 to the inner 6442 court 2691a who 834 is not summoned 7121, he has but one 259 law 1881, that he be put 4191 to death 4191, unless 905 4480 834 the king 4428 holds 3447 out to him the golden 2091 scepter 8275 so that he may live 2421a. And I have not been summoned 7121 to come 935 to the king 4428 for these 2088 thirty 7970 days 3117.”

 4:12 They related 5046 Esther’s 635 words 1697 to Mordecai 4782.

 4:13 ¶ Then Mordecai 4782 told 559 [them] to reply 7725 to Esther 635, “Do not imagine 1819 that you in the king’s 4428 palace 1004 can escape 4422 any more 4480 than 4480 all 3605 the Jews 3064.

 4:14 “For if 518 you remain 2790b silent 2790b at this 384 time 6256, relief 7305 and deliverance 2020 will arise 5975 for the Jews 3064 from another 312 place 4725 and you and your father’s 1 house 1004 will perish 6. And who 4310 knows 3045 whether 518 you have not attained 5060 royalty 4438 for such a time 6256 as this 384?”

 4:15 Then Esther 635 told 559 [them] to reply 7725 to Mordecai 4782,

 4:16 “Go 1980, assemble 3664 all 3605 the Jews 3064 who are found 4672 in Susa 7800, and fast 6684 for me; do not eat 398 or drink 8354 for three 7969 days 3117, night 3915 or day 3117. I and my maidens 5291 also 1571 will fast 6684 in the same 3651 way 3651. And thus 3651 I will go 935 in to the king 4428, which 834 is not according to the law 1881; and if 834 I perish 6, I perish 6.”

 4:17 So Mordecai 4782 went 5674a away 5674a and did 6213a just 3605 834 as Esther 635 had commanded 6680 him.