11
"All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law; all alike are to be put to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter that he may live. And I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days."
12
And they told Mor'decai what Esther had said.
13
Then Mor'decai told them to return answer to Esther, "Think not that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews.
14
For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"
15
Then Esther told them to reply to Mor'decai,
16
"Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law; and if I perish, I perish."
17
Mor'decai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.
18
Then Mordecai prayed to the Lord, calling to remembrance all the works of the Lord. He said:
19
"O Lord, Lord, King who rulest over all things, for the universe is in thy power and there is no one who can oppose thee if it is thy will to save Israel.
20
For thou hast made heaven and earth and every wonderful thing under heaven,
21
and thou art Lord of all, and there is no one who can resist thee, who art the Lord.