Esther 4
1 When Mordecai had heard this, he tore his garments and put on sackcloth, strewing ashes on his head, and he cried out with a loud voice in the main street of the city, revealing the anguish of his soul.
Da Mordokaj fik at vide alt, hvad der var sket, sønderrev han sine Klæder, klædte sig i Sæk og Aske og gik ud i Byen og udstødte høje Veraab;
2 And he continued with this lamenting, even up to the gate of the palace, for no one clothed with sackcloth is permitted to enter the king’s court.
og han kom hen paa Pladsen foran Kongens Port, men heller ikke længere, fordi det ikke var tilladt at gaa ind i Kongens Port, naar man var klædt i Sæk.
3 Likewise, in all provinces, towns, and places where the king’s cruel decision arrived, there was extraordinary mourning among the Jews with fasting, wailing, and weeping, with many using sackcloth and ashes for their bed.
Og i hver eneste Landsdel, overalt, hvor Kongens Bud og Forordning naaede hen, var der blandt Jøderne stor Sorg og Faste, Graad og Klage, og mange af dem redte sig et Leje af Sæk og Aske.
4 Then Esther’s maids and eunuchs went in and informed her. When she heard it, she was shocked, and she sent a garment to clothe him and to take away the sackcloth, but he would not accept it.
Da nu Esters Piger og Hofmænd kom og fortalte hende det, grebes Dronningen af heftig Smerte; og hun sendte Klæder ud til Mordokaj, for at man skulde give ham dem paa og tage Sørgeklæderne af ham; men han tog ikke imod dem.
5 And she sent for Hathach the eunuch, whom the king had appointed to minister to her, and she instructed him to go to Mordecai and to discern from him why he was doing this.
Da lod Ester Hatak, en af Kongens Hofmænd, som han havde stillet til hendes Tjeneste, kalde, og sendte ham til Mordokaj for at faa at vide, hvad det skulde betyde, og hvad Grunden var dertil.
6 And departing, Hathach went to Mordecai, who was standing in the street of the city, in front of the palace entrance.
Da Hatak kom ud til Mordokaj paa Byens Torv foran Kongens Port,
7 He told him everything that had happened, how Haman had promised to transfer silver into the king’s treasury for the death of the Jews.
fortalte Mordokaj ham alt, hvad der var hændt ham, og opgav ham nøje, hvor meget Sølv Haman havde lovet at tilveje Kongens Skatkamre for at faa Lov til at tilintetgøre Jøderne.
8 Also, he gave him a copy of the edict that was hanging up in Susa, so that he would show it to the queen and advise her to go in to the king and beg him on behalf of her people.
Desuden gav han ham en Afskrift af Skrivelsen med den i Susan udgaaede Forordning om at udrydde dem, for at han skulde vise Ester den og tilkendegive hende det og paalægge hende at gaa ind til Kongen og bede ham om Naade og gaa i Forbøn hos ham for sit Folk.
9 And Hathach returned and informed Esther of all that Mordecai had said.
Hatak gik saa ind og lod Ester vide, hvad Mordokaj havde sagt.
10 She answered him, and ordered him say to Mordecai:
Men Ester sendte Hatak til Mordokaj med følgende Svar:
11 “All the servants of the king and all the provinces that are under his realm understand that anyone, whether man or woman, who enters the king’s inner court, who has not been summoned, is immediately to be put to death without any delay, unless the king should happen to extend the golden scepter to him, as a sign of clemency, so that he will be able to live. How then can I go in to the king, when, for thirty days now, I have not been called to him?”
»Alle Kongens Tjenere og Folkene i Kongens Lande ved, at der for enhver, Mand eller Kvinde, som ukaldet gaar ind til Kongen i den inderste Gaard, kun gælder een Lov, den, at han skal lide Døden, medmindre Kongen rækker sit gyldne Scepter ud imod ham; i saa Fald beholder han Livet. Men jeg har nu i tredive Dage ikke været kaldt til Kongen!«
12 And when Mordecai had heard this, he again sent word to Esther, saying, “Do not think that you will save so much as your own soul, just because you are in the king’s house and are above all the Jews.
Da han havde meddelt Mordokaj Esters Ord,
13 And when Mordecai had heard this, he again sent word to Esther, saying, “Do not think that you will save so much as your own soul, just because you are in the king’s house and are above all the Jews.
bød Mordokaj ham svare Ester: »Tro ikke, at du alene af alle Jøder skal undslippe, fordi du er i Kongens Hus!
14 For, if you remain silent now, the Jews will be delivered through some other opportunity, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for this reason, so that you would be prepared for such a time as this?”
Nej, dersom du virkelig tier ved denne Lejlighed, saa kommer der andetsteds fra Hjælp og Redning til Jøderne; men du og din Slægt skal omkomme. Hvem ved, om det ikke netop er for sligt Tilfældes Skyld, at du er kommet til kongelig Værdighed!«
15 And again Esther sent to Mordecai in these words:
Da sendte Ester Mordokaj det Svar:
16 “Go and gather together all the Jews whom you will find in Susa, and pray for me. Neither eat nor drink for three days and three nights, and I will fast with my handmaids similarly, and then I will go in to the king, doing what is against the law, not having been called, and so expose myself to mortal danger.”
»Gaa hen og kald alle Susans Jøder sammen og hold Faste for mig, saaledes at I hverken spiser eller drikker Dag eller Nat i tre Døgn; paa samme Maade vil ogsaa jeg og mine Terner faste; og derefter vil jeg gaa ind til Kongen, skønt det er imod Loven; skal jeg omkomme, saa lad mig da omkomme!«
17 And so Mordecai went, and he did everything that Esther had instructed him.
Saa gik Mordokaj hen og gjorde ganske som Ester havde paalagt ham.
