1When Mordecai learned what was done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth with ashes, went out into the center of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry, 2But he only went as far as the king's gate; for none might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth. 3And in every province, wherever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning, fasting, weeping, and wailing among the Jews; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

4So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told her what had occurred. Then the queen was exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to replace his sackcloth; but he did not accept it. 5Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king's chamberlains, who was appointed to attend her, and sent him to Mordecai, to learn what the issue was, and why. 6So Hathach went to Mordecai in the open square of the city, which was before the king's gate. 7And Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and of the exact sum of money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them. 8 He also gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to show and explain it to Esther, and to tell her that she should go in to the king, to make supplication unto him, and plead for the lives of her people.

9So Hathach came and told Esther what Mordecai had said. 10And again Esther sent Hathach to tell Mordecai: 11“All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces know that whoever, whether man or woman, comes unto the king in the inner court, who was not summoned, there is one law of his to put him to death, unless the king holds out the golden scepter to him, then he may live; and I have not been called to come in unto the king the past thirty days.”

12So they told Mordecai what Esther said. 13Then Mordecai told them to answer Esther: “Do not think that you shall escape in the king's house, any more than all the other Jews. 14For if you hold your peace at this time, and relief and deliverance to the Jews shall arise from another place (source); but you and your father's house shall be destroyed (because you did not intervene when you had opportunity). And who knows whether you have attained your position in the kingdom for just such a time as this?” 15Then Esther sent this answer back to Mordecai: 16“Go, gather together all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day; I also, and my maidens, will fast likewise, and so will I go in unto the king, in violation of the law; and if I perish, I perish.” 17So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.