Esther 4

1 A saii boeih te Mordekai loh a ming. Te dongah Mordekai loh a himbai te a phen tih tlamhni neh hmaiphu a yil. Khopuei khui ah cet tih a pang khaw a len la hlut hlut pang.

Now when Mardochai had heard these things, he rent his garments, and put on sackcloth, strewing ashes on his head: and he cried with a loud voice in the street in the midst of the city, shewing the anguish of his mind.

2 Tedae tlamhni pueinak neh manghai vongka khuila a kun uh noek pawt dongah manghai vongka hmai hil tah cet.

And he came lamenting in this manner even to the gate of the palace: for no one clothed with sackcloth might enter the king’s court.

3 A paeng, paeng boeih ah manghai kah ol neh a olkhan loh a pha nah hmuen kah Judah ham tah nguekcoinah muep om. Te dongah yaehnah, rhahnah rhaengsaelung neh, tlamhni, hmaiphu neh muep bol uh.

And in all provinces, towns, and places, to which the king’s cruel edict was come, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, wailing, and weeping, many using sackcloth and ashes for their bed.

4 Te vaengah Esther kah hula rhoek neh a imkhoem te cet tih a taengah a puen pah dongah manghainu khaw sut poi. Te dongah Mordekai te himbai bai sak ham neh a dongkah a tlamhni te dul pah ham a tueih pah dae doe pawh.

Then Esther’s maids and her eunuchs went in, and told her. And when she heard it she was in a consternation: and she sent a garment, to clothe him, and to take away the sackcloth: but he would not receive it.

5 Esther loh a mikhmuh ah aka thotat manghai imkhoem Hathakh te a khue tih Mordekai kawng te metla om tih mebang khaw ming hamla a uen.

And she called for Athach the eunuch, whom the king had appointed to attend upon her, and she commanded him to go to Mardochai, and learn of him why he did this.

6 Hathakh khaw khopuei toltung ah manghai vongka hmai kah Mordekai taengla cet.

And Athach going out went to Mardochai, who was standing in the street of the city, before the palace gate:

7 Te vaengah Mordekai loh amah aka mah boeih khaw, amih Judah, Judah milh sak ham Haman loh manghai baiphaih khuiah a paek ham tangka ciim a thui te khaw,

And Mardochai told him all that had happened, how Aman had promised to pay money into the king’s treasures, to have the Jews destroyed.

8 amih mitmoeng sak ham Shushan ah olkhan catlaep ca a paek te Esther tueng ham neh a taengah thui pah ham khaw Hathakh taengah a paek. Esther te manghai taengah amah hloep ham aka kun la, a pilnam ham a mikhmuh ah a moeh la uen ham khaw a taengah a thui pah.

He gave him also a copy of the edict which was hanging up in Susan, that he should shew it to the queen, and admonish her to go in to the king, and to entreat him for her people.

9 Hathakh te mael tih Mordekai ol te Esther taengah a thui pah.

And Athach went back and told Esther all that Mardochai had said.

10 Esther loh Hathakh te a voek tih Mordekai ham te anih taengah,

She answered him, and bade him say to Mardochai:

11 “Manghai kah sal rhoek boeih neh pilnam khaw, manghai kah paeng long khaw, huta neh tongpa boeih khaw, a olkhan pakhat nen khaw a khue pawt ah vongup khui la manghai taengla aka mop tah a duek ham coeng ni, manghai loh a taengah sui mancai a doe bueng ni dawk a hing khaw na ming uh. Tedae kamah he manghai taengla kun ham akhaw khohnin sawmthum khuiah n'khue moenih,” tila a uen.

All the king’s servants, and all the provinces that are under his dominion, know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, cometh into the king’s inner court, who is not called for, is immediately to be put to death without any delay: except the king shall hold out the golden sceptre to him, in token of clemency, that so he may live. How then can I go in to the king, who for these thirty days now have not been called unto him?

12 Esther kah ol te Mordekai taengla a puen pauh.

And when Mardochai had heard this,

13 Mordekai loh Esther taengla ol a mael hamla, “Judah boeih akhaw manghai im kah tah loeih ni tila na hinglu khuiah lutlat boeh.

He sent word to Esther again, saying: Think not that thou mayst save thy life only, because thou art in the king a house, more than all the Jews:

14 Tahae tue ah he kholak ah na ngam khaw na ngam mai khaming. Judah ham khangnah he hmuen tloe lamloh ha pai bitni. Tedae namah neh na pa imkhui loh na milh uh khaw u long a ming. Tedae hae tue vaengkah ham manghai la na poeh?” a ti nah.

For if thou wilt now hold thy peace, the Jews shall be delivered by some other occasion: and thou, and thy father’s house shall perish. And who knoweth whether thou art not therefore come to the kingdom, that thou mightest be ready in such a time as this?

15 Te dongah Esther loh Mordekai taengla ol a mael tih,

And again Esther sent to Mardochai in these words:

16 “Cet laeh, Shushan ah aka phoe Judah pum te calui lamtah kai hamla yaeh uh laeh. Khoyin khothaih hnin thum khuiah caak ca uh boeh, tui khaw o uh boeh. Kai neh ka tanu rhoek khaw te tlam te ka yaeh uh eh. Te phoeiah tah olkhan bangla a om pawt akhaw manghai taengla ka cet vetih a milh khaw ka milh mai bitni,” a ti nah.

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.

17 Te dongah Mordekai te cet tih Esther loh a taengah a uen bangla boeih a saii.

So Mardochai went, and did all that Esther had commanded him.