Mordecai Asks for Esther's Help
1 When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes in anguish. Then he dressed in sackcloth, covered his head with ashes, and ran through the city crying loudly, “An innocent nation is being destroyed!” 2 When he came to the entrance of the palace, he stopped. He did not go in because no one in sackcloth and ashes was allowed inside. 3 Throughout all the provinces, wherever the king's proclamation was made known, there was loud mourning among the Jews. They wept, wailed, and put on sackcloth and ashes.
4 When Esther's servant women and eunuchs told her what Mordecai was doing, she was deeply disturbed. She sent Mordecai some clothes to put on instead of the sackcloth, but he would not accept them. 5 Then she called Hathach, one of the palace eunuchs appointed as her servant, and told him to go to Mordecai and get the details of what was happening. 7 Mordecai told him everything that had happened and how Haman had promised to put 375 tons of silver into the royal treasury if all the Jews were killed. 8 He gave Hathach a copy of the proclamation that had been issued in Susa, ordering the destruction of the Jews. Mordecai asked him to take it to Esther so that she might go and plead with the king and beg him to have mercy on her people. “Tell her,” he said, “to remember the days when she was just an ordinary person being brought up under my care. Now, since Haman, the king's prime minister, has spoken against us and demands our death, she must pray to the Lord and then speak to the king about us. She must save us from death.”
9 So Hathach did this, 10 and Esther gave him this message to take back to Mordecai: 11 “If anyone, man or woman, goes to the inner courtyard and sees the king without being summoned, that person will be sentenced to death. Everyone in the empire knows that. Only if the king holds out his gold scepter to him can his life be spared. But it has been a month now since the king has sent for me.”
12 When Mordecai received Esther's message, 13 he sent her this warning: “Esther, don't imagine that you are safer than any of the other Jews in the empire. 14 If you keep quiet at a time like this, help will come to the Jews in some other way and they will be saved, but you will die and your father's family will come to an end. Yet, who knows? Maybe it was for a time like this that you were made queen!”
15 Esther sent Mordecai this reply: 16 “Go and gather all the Jews in Susa together; hold a fast and pray for me. Don't eat or drink anything for three days and nights. My servant women and I will be doing the same. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. If I must die for doing it, I will die.”
17 Mordecai then left and did everything that Esther had told him to do.
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Mordecai's Prayer
18 Mordecai prayed to the Lord, calling to mind what the Lord had done in the past: 19 “O Lord, you are the Lord and King of all creation, and everything obeys your commands. If you wish to save Israel, no one can stop you. 20 You made heaven and earth and all the wonderful things on earth. 21 You are the Lord of all, and there is no one who can stand against you. 22 You know all things. You know, Lord, that when I refused to bow to that arrogant Haman, it was not because I was arrogant or trying to impress people. 23-24 I simply did not want to honor any human being more than I honor God. I refuse to bow to anyone but you, my Lord; and this is not because of pride. If it would help to save Israel, I would be willing even to kiss the soles of his feet.
25-26 “And now, O Lord, God and King, God of Abraham, spare your people; save us from our enemies. They are determined to destroy us; they are looking for a chance. Long ago you chose us to be your people and rescued us from the land of Egypt. Do not abandon us now. 27 We are your chosen people, so listen to my prayer and be gracious to us. Turn our misfortune into joy so that we may live to sing your praises. Save us from death so that we can keep on praising you.”
28 And all the people of Israel prayed loudly and earnestly because they were sure that they were going to die.
Esther's Prayer
29 Queen Esther, in deep agony, turned to the Lord. 30 She took off her splendid robes and put on garments of mourning and grief. Instead of her rich perfumes, she put ashes and dung on her head. She did all she could to destroy any dignity in her appearance. She let her tangled and uncombed hair hang down over her body that she had always taken such care to beautify. 31 She prayed to the Lord God of Israel, “My Lord and King, only you are God. I am all alone, and I have no one to turn to but you. Help me! 32 I am about to risk my life. 33 O Lord, as long as I can remember, my family has told me how you chose Israel from all the nations and how in ancient times you singled out our ancestors to be your people forever. You have kept all your promises to them.
34 “But we sinned against you. You handed us over to our enemies because we worshiped their gods. 35 We deserved your punishment, O Lord. 36 But our enemies are no longer satisfied just to see us in slavery. They have made a solemn promise to their idols 37 not only to destroy the people who praise you, but to do away with your Law and to remove forever the glory of your house and altar. 38 They want the whole world to praise worthless idols and stand in awe of mortal kings forever.
39 “Lord, these gods are nothing; do not surrender your power to them or give our enemies the chance to laugh at our downfall. Instead, turn their evil plans against them, and make an example of that man who first planned our destruction.
40 “Remember us, O Lord. Come to us in this time of trouble. Give me courage, King of all gods and Ruler over all earthly powers. 41 Give me the right words to say when I go in to face Xerxes, that savage lion. Change his heart so that he will turn against Haman, our enemy, and destroy him and his gang. 42 Come to our rescue, O Lord. Help me; I am all alone, and I have no one to turn to but you.
43 “You know everything, Lord. You know that I hate the honor I receive from these Gentiles. I detest the thought of having sex with any of these uncircumcised heathen. 44 But you know that I have no choice. I hate the crown I have to wear as queen on official occasions. I never wear it unless I have to; it's as disgusting as last month's rag. 45 I refuse to eat at Haman's table or honor the king by attending his parties, and I have never drunk any of the wine dedicated to his gods. 46 Since I came here, the only thing that has brought me joy is my worship of you, Lord God of Abraham.
47 “Almighty God, listen to the prayer of your people. Rescue us from these evildoers, and take away my fear.”
Mordohaja un Esteres lūgšana
18 [1] Un viņš lūdza Kungu, pieminēdams visus Kunga darbus: 19 [2] “Kungs, Kungs, tu, kas valdi pār visu, tādēļ ka viss ir tavā varā un nav neviena, kas varētu tev pretoties, ja tu gribi glābt Israēlu. 20 [3] Tu esi radījis debesis un zemi un visu, kas pasaulē apbrīnojams, un tu esi Kungs pār visu; nav neviena, kas tev, Kungam, stātos pretim. 21 [4] Tev viss ir zināms, Kungs! Tu zini arī, ka nedz augstprātības, nedz lepnības vai iedomības dēļ es neliecu ceļus lepnā Amana priekšā – es labprāt būtu skūpstījis viņa kāju pēdas, lai tikai glābtu Israēlu, – 22 [5] bet es tā rīkojos, lai cilvēka gods netiktu pacelts augstāk par Dieva godu. Neviena priekšā es neliekšu ceļus, vienīgi tavā priekšā, mans Kungs, un to es nedarīšu aiz lepnības. 23 [6] Un tagad, Kungs Dievs, Valdniek, Ābrahāma Dievs, pasaudzē savu tautu, jo pret mums vēršas ar iznīcināšanas draudiem un tīko izpostīt mantojumu, kas tev pieder no sākta gala. 24 [7] Nepamet novārtā savu daļu, ko no Ēģiptes tu esi sev izglābis. 25 [8] Uzklausi manu lūgšanu un apžēlojies par savu mantojumu, un pārvērt mūsu bēdas priekā, lai mēs, dzīvi būdami, dziedātu slavas dziesmas tavam vārdam, Kungs, un nepazudini tos, kas tevi slavē.” 26 [9] Un Israēls sāka skaļā balsī kliegt no visa spēka, jo nāve bija visu acu priekšā. 27 [10] Arī ķēniņiene Estere, nāves satraukuma pārņemta, meklēja patvērumu pie Kunga. Novilkusi godības tērpu un apvilkusi izmisuma un sēru drēbes, lepnā krāšņuma vietā pelnus un pīšļus sev uz galvas uzkaisījusi, savu miesu izmērdējusi un it visu, kas viņā priecēja ar savu skaistumu, nosegusi ar atrisušām matu cirtām, viņa vērsās ar lūgšanām pie Kunga, Israēla Dieva, sacīdama: 28 [11] “Mans Kungs, kas esi mūsu vienīgais Valdnieks! Palīdzi man, es esmu viena, un man nav cita palīga kā vienīgi tu, jo briesmas man ir tuvu. 29 [12] Kopš mazām dienām es savā tēva dzimtā esmu dzirdējusi, ka tu, Kungs, no visām tautām sev esi izvēlējies Israēlu un no visiem senčiem mūsu tēvus iecēlis par mūžīgiem mantiniekiem, un visu, ko tu viņiem esi teicis, tu esi darījis. 30 [13] Taču nu mēs esam nogrēkojušies tavā priekšā, un tu mūs esi nodevis mūsu ienaidnieku rokās par to, ka esam godājuši viņu dievus. Kungs, tu esi taisns! 31 [14] Bet viņiem nebija gana ar mūsu rūgto verdzību; savas rokas liekot uz elkdievu rokām, viņi ir apņēmušies iznīcināt to, ko tu mums ar savu muti esi zvērējis, izdeldēt to, kas ir tava mantojuma daļa, aizdarīt muti tiem, kas tevi slavē, izdzēst tava nama un tava altāra godību 32 [15] un atdarīt muti cittautiešiem, lai slavināti tiktu neīstie dievi un lai miesīgais ķēniņš sajūsmā tiktu apbrīnots uz laiku laikiem. 33 [16] Neatdod, Kungs, savu zizli tiem, kas nav nekādi dievi, un neļauj smieties par mūsu krišanu, bet pavērs viņu nodomus pret viņiem pašiem un liec kaunā to, kurš sācis to visu pret mums. 34 [17] Atceries, Kungs, mūs un parādies mums mūsu bēdu laikā un iedrošini mani, tu, kas esi Valdnieks pār visiem dieviem un pār jebkuru varu. 35 [18] Liec manā mutē skanīgu vārdu, ko teikt šī lauvas priekšā, un iegrozi viņa sirdsprātu, lai viņš ienīstu to, kurš mūs apkaro, tā ka tas kopā ar saviem domubiedriem dabū galu; 36 [19] bet mūs izglāb ar savu roku un palīdzi man, kas esmu viena un kam nav cita palīga kā vienīgi tu, Kungs. 37 [20] Tev viss ir zināms, un tu zini arī, ka es ienīstu godu, kas man tiek dots no tavu baušļu neatzinējiem, un man ir pretīgi dalīt laulības gultu ar neapgraizītajiem un jebkuru svešai ciltij piederīgo. 38 [21] Tu zini, ka tā man ir nepieciešamība – likt galvā savu lepnības rotu tajās dienās, kad parādos atklātībā, es to daru ar riebumu; man tā ir pretīga kā aptraipīta skranda, un es to nevalkāju, kad viena mierīgi vadu savas dienas. 39 [22] Tava kalpone nav baudījusi ēdienu no Amana galda, nav pagodinājusi ķēniņa dzīres un nav dzērusi upurvīnu; 40 [23] un tava kalpone nav baudījusi prieku kopš liktenīgā pavērsiena dienas līdz pat šim laikam kā vienīgi tevī, Kungs, Ābrahāma Dievs. 41 [24] Dievs, tu, kas ar savu spēku valdi pār visiem, uzklausi cerību zaudējušo lūgšanas, izpestī mūs no ļaunprātīgo rokām un izpestī mani no manām bailēm!”
