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Queen Esther, in deep agony, turned to the Lord.
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She took off her splendid robes and put on garments of mourning and grief. Instead of her rich perfumes, she put ashes and dung on her head. She did all she could to destroy any dignity in her appearance. She let her tangled and uncombed hair hang down over her body that she had always taken such care to beautify.
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She prayed to the Lord God of Israel, "My Lord and King, only you are God. I am all alone, and I have no one to turn to but you. Help me!
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I am about to risk my life.
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O Lord, as long as I can remember, my family has told me how you chose Israel from all the nations and how in ancient times you singled out our ancestors to be your people forever. You have kept all your promises to them.
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"But we sinned against you. You handed us over to our enemies because we worshiped their gods.
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We deserved your punishment, O Lord.
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But our enemies are no longer satisfied just to see us in slavery. They have made a solemn promise to their idols
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not only to destroy the people who praise you, but to do away with your Law and to remove forever the glory of your house and altar.
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They want the whole world to praise worthless idols and stand in awe of mortal kings forever.
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"Lord, these gods are nothing; do not surrender your power to them or give our enemies the chance to laugh at our downfall. Instead, turn their evil plans against them, and make an example of that man who first planned our destruction.