8 Mordecai also gave him a copy of the written decree issued in Susa ordering their destruction, so that Hathach might show it to Esther, explain it to her, and command her to approach the king, implore his favor, and plead with him personally for her people.ag 9 Hathach came and repeated Mordecai’s response to Esther.

10 Esther spoke to Hathach and commanded him to tell Mordecai, 11 “All the royal officials and the people of the royal provinces know that one law applies to every man or woman who approaches the king in the inner courtyardah and who has not been summoned—the death penalty—aunless the king extends the gold scepter, allowing that person to live.b I have not been summoned to appear before the kingc for the lastA thirty days.” 12 Esther’s response was reported to Mordecai.

13 Mordecai told the messenger to reply to Esther, “Don’t think that you will escape the fate of all the Jews because you are in the king’s palace. 14 If you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will come to the Jewish people from another place,d but you and your father’s family will be destroyed. Who knows, perhaps you have come to your royal position for such a time as this.”e

15 Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa and fast for me. Don’t eat or drink for three days,f night or day. I and my female servants will also fastg in the same way. After that, I will go to the king even if it is against the law.h If I perish, I perish.”i 17 So Mordecai went and did everything Esther had commanded him.