9
And Hatachcame and toldEsther the words of Mordecai.
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Again Estherspake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai;
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All the king'sservants, and the people of the king'sprovinces, do know , that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the innercourt, who is not called , there is onelaw of his to put him to death , except such to whom the king shall hold out the goldensceptre, that he may live : but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirtydays.
13
Then Mordecaicommanded to answerEsther,Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king'shouse, more than all the Jews.
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For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverancearise to the Jews from anotherplace; but thou and thy father'shouse shall be destroyed : and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
15
Then Estherbade them returnMordecai this answer,
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Go , gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drinkthreedays,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.