14
For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there arise respite and deliverance 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
Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer:
16
"Go, gather together all the Jews who 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
So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.
18
Then Mordecai thought upon all the works of the Lord, and made his prayer unto Him,
19
saying, "O Lord, Lord, the King Almighty, for the whole world is in Thy power; and if Thou hast appointed to save Israel, there is no man that can gainsay Thee.
20
For Thou hast made heaven and earth, and all the wondrous things under the heaven.
21
Thou art Lord of all things, and there is no man that can resist Thee, who art the Lord.
22
Thou knowest all things; and Thou knowest, Lord, that it was neither in contempt nor pride, nor for any desire of glory that I did not bow down to proud Haman.
23
For I could have been content with good will for the salvation of Israel, to kiss the soles of his feet.
24
But I did this, that I might not prefer the glory of man above the glory of God; neither will I worship any but Thee, O God, neither will I do it in pride.
25
And now, O Lord God and King, spare Thy people, for their eyes are upon us to bring us to nought; yea, they desire to destroy the inheritance that hath been Thine from the beginning.
26
Despise not the portion, which Thou hast delivered out of Egypt for Thine own self.
27
Hear my prayer, and be merciful unto Thine inheritance; turn our sorrow into joy, that we may live, O Lord, and praise Thy name; and destroy not the mouths of them that praise Thee, O Lord."
28
All Israel in like manner cried most earnestly unto the Lord, because their death was before their eyes.
29
Queen Esther also, being in fear of death, resorted unto the Lord,
30
and laid away her glorious apparel and put on the garments of anguish and mourning; and instead of precious ointments, she covered her head with ashes and dung; and she humbled her body greatly, and all the places of her joy she filled with her torn hair.
31
And she prayed unto the Lord God of Israel, saying: "O my Lord, Thou only art our King. Help me, desolate woman, who have no helper but Thee,
32
for my danger is in mine hand.
33
From my youth up I have heard in the tribe of my family that Thou, O Lord, tookest Israel from among all people, and our fathers from all their predecessors, for a perpetual inheritance, and Thou hast performed whatsoever Thou didst promise them.
34
And now we have sinned before Thee; therefore hast Thou given us into the hands of our enemies,