末底改求以斯帖帮忙
末底改知道所发生的这一切事，就撕裂衣服，披麻蒙灰，在城中行走，痛哭哀号。
When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;
2他到了朝门前就停住脚步，因为穿麻衣的不可进朝门。And came even before the king's gate: for none might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.
3王的谕旨和敕令所到的各省各处，犹太人都极其悲哀，禁食哭泣哀号，许多人躺在麻布和炉灰中。And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
4以斯帖王后的宫女和太监来把这事告诉以斯帖，她非常忧愁，就送衣服给末底改穿，要他脱下身上的麻衣，他却不肯接受。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以斯帖把王所派伺候她的一个太监哈他革召来，吩咐他去见末底改，要知道到底发生了什么事，为何如此。Then called Esther for Hatach, 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于是哈他革出来，到朝门前的广场见末底改。So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king's gate.
7末底改把自己遭遇的一切，以及哈曼为灭绝犹太人答应捐入王库的银数都告诉了他；And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.
8又把那传遍书珊、要灭绝犹太人的谕旨抄本交给哈他革，要他给以斯帖看，并向她说明，嘱咐她去晋见王，向王恳求，为本族的人在王面前请命。Also he gave him the 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哈他革回来，把末底改的话告诉以斯帖。And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.
10以斯帖吩咐哈他革去见末底改，说：Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai;
11“王所有的臣仆和各省的百姓都知道有一个定例，若未奉召见，擅入内院见王的，无论男女必被处死；除非王向他伸出金杖，不得存活。但我没有被召进去见王已经有三十天了。”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 the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the 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他们把以斯帖的话告诉末底改。And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.
13末底改托人回覆以斯帖说：“你不要自己以为在王宫里强过任何犹太人，得以幸免。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此时你若闭口不言，犹太人必从别处得解脱，蒙拯救；你和你父家必致灭亡。焉知你得了王后的位分不是为现今的机会吗？”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以斯帖吩咐人回覆末底改说：Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,
16“你当去召集书珊所有的犹太人，为我禁食三昼三夜，不吃不喝；我和我的宫女也要这样禁食。然后我违例去晋见王，我若死就死吧！”Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three 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 if I perish, I perish.
17于是末底改照以斯帖一切所吩咐的去做。So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.