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Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, "Do not think that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews.
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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 family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this."
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Then Esther said in reply to Mordecai,
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"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. After that I will go to the king, though it is against the law; and if I perish, I perish."
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Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.
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Then Mordecai prayed to the Lord, calling to remembrance all the works of the Lord.
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e said, "O Lord, Lord, you rule as King over all things, for the universe is in your power and there is no one who can oppose you when it is your will to save Israel,
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for you have made heaven and earth and every wonderful thing under heaven.
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You are Lord of all, and there is no one who can resist you, the Lord.
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You know all things; you know, O Lord, that it was not in insolence or pride or for any love of glory that I did this, and refused to bow down to this proud Haman;
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for I would have been willing to kiss the soles of his feet to save Israel!