斯4:1 末底改知道了发生的一切事，就撕裂自己的衣服，披上麻衣，撒上灰尘，出到城中，大声痛哭地呼叫。
斯4:1 Now when Mordecai saw what was done, pulling off his robe, he put on haircloth, with dust on his head, and went out into the middle of the town, crying out with a loud and bitter cry.
斯4:2 他到了御门前，就停住，因为身穿麻衣的，不可以进御门。
斯4:2 And he came even before the king's doorway; for no one might come inside the king's door clothed in haircloth.
斯4:3 王的谕旨和命令传到的各省各地，犹大人都大大悲哀，禁食、哭泣、悲伤；许多人披上麻衣，躺在灰尘中。
斯4:3 And in every part of the kingdom, wherever the king's word and his order came, there was great sorrow among the Jews, and weeping and crying and going without food; and numbers of them were stretched on the earth covered with dust and haircloth.
斯4:4 以斯帖的婢女和太监把这事告诉以斯帖，王后就非常惊慌，就派人送衣服给末底改穿着，要他脱下麻衣，他却不接受。
斯4:4 And Esther's women and her servants came and gave her word of it. Then great was the grief of the queen: and she sent robes for Mordecai, so that his clothing of haircloth might be taken off; but he would not have them.
斯4:5 以斯帖就把王派来侍候她的一个太监哈他革召了来，吩咐他到末底改那里去，探听这是什么一回事，又是为了什么缘故。
斯4:5 Then Esther sent for Hathach, one of the king's unsexed servants whom he had given her for waiting on her, and she gave him orders to go to Mordecai and see what this was and why it was.
斯4:6 于是哈他革出到御门前的广场去见末底改。
斯4:6 So Hathach went out and saw Mordecai in the open square of the town before the king's doorway.
斯4:7 末底改把他遭遇的一切事，以及哈曼为灭尽犹大人答应捐银给王库的数目，都告诉了他。
斯4:7 And Mordecai gave him an account of what had taken place, and of the amount of money which Haman had said he would put into the king's store for the destruction of the Jews.
斯4:8 末底改又把在书珊城颁布要毁灭犹大人的谕旨抄本，交给了哈他革，要他给以斯帖看，并且要给她说明，吩咐她进宫见王，向王求情，为自己的族人在王面前恳求。
斯4:8 And he gave him the copy of the order which had been given out in Shushan for their destruction, ordering him to let Esther see it, and to make it clear to her; and to say to her that she was to go in to the king, requesting his mercy, and making prayer for her people.
斯4:9 哈他革回来，把末底改的话都告诉了以斯帖。
斯4:9 And Hathach came back and gave Esther an account of what Mordecai had said.
斯4:10 以斯帖把以下的话告诉哈他革，又吩咐他回复末底改说：
斯4:10 Then Esther sent Hathach to say to Mordecai:
斯4:11 “王所有的臣仆和各省的人民，都知道有一条法令：无论男女，没有奉召就擅入内院去见王的，除非王向他伸出金杖，赐他免死，一律要处以死刑。现在我没有奉召进去见王已经三十天了。”
斯4:11 It is common knowledge among all the king's servants and the people of every part of the kingdom, that if anyone, man or woman, comes to the king in his inner room without being sent for, there is only one law for him, that he is to be put to death; only those to whom the king's rod of gold is stretched out may keep their lives: but I have not been sent for to come before the king these thirty days.
斯4:12 哈他革把以斯帖的话都告诉末底改。
斯4:12 And they said these words to Mordecai.
斯4:13 末底改叫人回复以斯帖说：“你不要心里想，你在王宫里比所有的犹大人都安全。
斯4:13 Then Mordecai sent this answer back to Esther: Do not have the idea that you in the king's house will be safe from the fate of all the Jews.
斯4:14 这时你若是缄默不言，犹大人必会从别的地方得着解救，那时你和你的父家就必灭亡。谁知你得了王后的位分，不是为了挽救现今的危机吗？”
斯4:14 If at this time you say nothing, then help and salvation will come to the Jews from some other place, but you and your father's family will come to destruction: and who is to say that you have not come to the kingdom even for such a time as this?
斯4:15 以斯帖吩咐人回复末底改说：
斯4:15 Then Esther sent them back to Mordecai with this answer:
斯4:16 “你要去，把书珊城所有的犹大人都召集起来，为我禁食三天，就是三日三夜不吃不喝；我和我的婢女也要这样禁食。然后我就违例进去见王；我若是死，就死吧。”
斯4:16 Go, get together all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and go without food for me, taking no food or drink night or day for three days: and I and my women will do the same; and so I will go in to the king, which is against the law: and if death is to be my fate, then let it come.
斯4:17 于是末底改离开了，照着以斯帖吩咐的一切去行。
斯4:17 So Mordecai went away and did everything as Esther had said.