1When Mordecai learned all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city and wailed loudly and bitterly.
1末底改知道所做的這一切事，就撕裂衣服，穿麻衣，蒙灰塵，在城中行走，痛哭哀號。
2He went as far as the king's gate, for no one was to enter the king's gate clothed in sackcloth.
2到了朝門前停住腳步，因為穿麻衣的不可進朝門。
3In each and every province where the command and decree of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing; and many lay on sackcloth and ashes.
3王的諭旨所到的各省各處，猶大人大大悲哀，禁食哭泣哀號，穿麻衣躺在灰中的甚多。
4Then Esther's maidens and her eunuchs came and told her, and the queen writhed in great anguish. And she sent garments to clothe Mordecai that he might remove his sackcloth from him, but he did not accept [them].
4王后以斯帖的宮女和太監來把這事告訴以斯帖，他甚是憂愁，就送衣服給末底改穿，要他脫下麻衣，他卻不受。
5Then Esther summoned Hathach from the king's eunuchs, whom the king had appointed to attend her, and ordered him [to go] to Mordecai to learn what this [was] and why it [was].
5以斯帖就把王所派伺候他的一個太監，名叫哈他革召來，吩咐他去見末底改，要知道這是甚麼事，是甚麼緣故。
6So Hathach went out to Mordecai to the city square in front of the king's gate.
6於是哈他革出到朝門前的寬闊處見末底改。
7Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the exact amount of money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the destruction of the Jews.
7末底改將自己所遇的事，並哈曼為滅絕猶大人應許捐入王庫的銀數都告訴了他；
8He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict which had been issued in Susa for their destruction, that he might show Esther and inform her, and to order her to go in to the king to implore his favor and to plead with him for her people.
8又將所抄寫傳遍書珊城要滅絕猶大人的旨意交給哈他革，要給以斯帖看，又要給他說明，並囑咐他進去見王，為本族的人在王面前懇切祈求。
9Hathach came back and related Mordecai's words to Esther.
9哈他革回來，將末底改的話告訴以斯帖；
10Then Esther spoke to Hathach and ordered him [to reply] to Mordecai:
10以斯帖就吩咐哈他革去見末底改，說：
11'All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that for any man or woman who comes to the king to the inner court who is not summoned, he has but one law, that he be put to death, unless the king holds out to him the golden scepter so that he may live. And I have not been summoned to come to the king for these thirty days.'
11「王的一切臣僕和各省的人民都知道有一個定例：若不蒙召，擅入內院見王的，無論男女必被治死；除非王向他伸出金杖，不得存活。現在我沒有蒙召進去見王已經三十日了。」
12They related Esther's words to Mordecai.
12人就把以斯帖這話告訴末底改。
13Then Mordecai told [them] to reply to Esther, 'Do not imagine that you in the king's palace can escape any more than all the Jews.
13末底改託人回覆以斯帖說：你莫想在王宮裡強過一切猶大人，得免這禍。
14'For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?'
14此時你若閉口不言，猶大人必從別處得解脫，蒙拯救；你和你父家必致滅亡。焉知你得了王后的位分不是為現今的機會嗎？」
15Then Esther told [them] to reply to Mordecai,
15以斯帖就吩咐人回報末底改說：
16'Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens also will fast in the same way. And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.'
16「你當去招聚書珊城所有的猶大人，為我禁食三晝三夜，不吃不喝；我和我的宮女也要這樣禁食。然後我違例進去見王，我若死就死吧！」
17So Mordecai went away and did just as Esther had commanded him.
17於是末底改照以斯帖一切所吩咐的去行。