4 *When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai arent his clothes, and put on bsackcloth with cashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry; 2 And came even before the king’s gate: for none might enter into the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth. 3 And in every province, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and dfasting, and weeping, and wailing; and †many lay in bsackcloth and cashes.

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. 5 Then called Esther for eHatach, 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. 6 So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king’s gate. 7 And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of fthe sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them. 8 Also he gave him gthe 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. 9 And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.

10 Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai; 11 All 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 hthe inner court, who is not called, ithere is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom kthe 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. 12 And they told to Mordecai Esther’s words. 13 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews. 14 For 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?

15 Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, 16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are †present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink lthree 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 mif I perish, I perish. 17 So Mordecai †went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.

5 Now it came to pass aon the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in bthe inner court of the king’s house, over against the king’s house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house. 2 And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that cshe obtained favour in his sight: and dthe king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre. 3 Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee eto the half of the kingdom. 4 And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him. 5 Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

6 fAnd the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, gWhat is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even eto the half of the kingdom it shall be performed. 7 Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is; 8 hIf I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and †to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to morrow as the king hath said.

9 Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a iglad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, kthat he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai. 10 Nevertheless Haman lrefrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and †called for his friends, and mZeresh his wife. 11 And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and nthe multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had opromoted him, and how he had oadvanced him above the princes and servants of the king. 12 Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to morrow am I pinvited unto her also with the king. 13 Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.

14 Then said mZeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a †gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.