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Go, and gather together all the Jews whom thou shalt find in Susan, and pray ye for me. Neither eat nor drink for three days and three nights: and I with my handmaids will fast in like manner, and then I will go in to the king, against the law, not being called, and expose myself to death and to danger.
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So Mardochai went, and did all that Esther had commanded him.
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But Mardochai besought the Lord, remembering all his works,
19
And said: O Lord, Lord, almighty king, for all things are in thy power, and there is none that can resist thy will, if thou determine to save Israel.
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Thou hast made heaven and earth, and all things that are under the cope of heaven.
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Thou art Lord of all, and there is none that can resist thy majesty.
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Thou knowest all things, and thou knowest that it was not out of pride and contempt, or any desire of glory, that I refused to worship the proud Aman,
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(For I would willingly and readily for the salvation of Israel have kissed even the steps of his feet,)
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But I feared lest I should transfer the honour of my God to a man, and lest I should adore any one except my God.
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And now, O Lord, O king, O God of Abraham, have mercy on thy people, be- cause our enemies resolve to destroy us, and extinguish thy inheritance.
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Despise not thy portion, which thou hast redeemed for thyself out of Egypt.