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Then Esther told them to reply to Mor'decai,
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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. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law; and if I perish, I perish."
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Mor'decai 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. He said:
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"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.
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For thou hast made heaven and earth and every wonderful thing under heaven,
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and thou art Lord of all, and there is no one who can resist thee, who art the Lord.
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Thou knowest all things; thou knowest, 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!
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But I did this, that I might not set the glory of man above the glory of God, and I will not bow down to any one but to thee, who art my Lord; and I will not do these things in pride.
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And now, O Lord God and King, God of Abraham, spare thy people; for the eyes of our foes are upon us to annihilate us, and they desire to destroy the inheritance that has been thine from the beginning.