1When Mordecai learned all that had happened, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried out with a loud and bitter cry. 2He went as far as the front of the kings gate: for no one was to enter the kings gate clothed with sackcloth. 3And in every province where the kings command and decree arrived, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes. 4So Esthers maids and officials came and reported it to her, and the queen was exceedingly distressed. Then she sent garments to clothe Mordecai and take his sackcloth away from him, but he would not accept them. 5Then Esther called Hathach, one of the kings officials whom he had appointed to attend her, and she gave him a command concerning Mordecai, to learn what and why this was. 6So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the city square that was in front of the kings gate. 7And Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the kings treasuries to destroy the Jews. 8He also gave him a copy of the written decree for their destruction, which was given at Shushan, that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her, and that he might command her to go in to the king to make supplication to him and plead before him for her people. 9So Hathach returned and told Esther the words of Mordecai. 10Again Esther spoke to Hathach, and charged him to say to Mordecai: 11All the kings servants and the people of the kings provinces know that any man or woman who goes into the inner court to the king, who has not been summoned, has but one law: to put all to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter, that he may live. Furthermore, I have not been called to go in to the king these thirty days. 12And they told Mordecai Esthers words. 13And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: Do not think in your soul that you will escape in the kings house any more than all the other Jews. 14For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your fathers house shall perish. Yet who knows whether you have attained unto the kingdom for such a time as this? 15Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai: 16Go, gather all the Jews who are found in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go in to the king, which is against the law; and if I have perished, I have perished! 17So Mordecai went his way and did according to all that Esther commanded him.