Esther 4
1 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.
Ketika Mordekai mengetahui isi surat yang diperintahkan Haman, dia merobek pakaiannya dan mengenakan kain karung dan menaburkan abu di atas kepalanya sebagai tanda berduka. Dia berjalan ke kota sambil meratap.
2 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.
Mordekai berhenti di depan pintu gerbang istana, sebab orang yang memakai kain karung sebagai pakaian dilarang masuk.
3 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.
Ketika surat perintah raja diumumkan di seluruh wilayah kerajaan, orang-orang Yahudi menunjukkan kesedihan mereka dengan menangis, meratap dan berpuasa. Sebagai tanda berduka, banyak di antara mereka membentangkan kain karung ke tanah, menaburkan abu di atasnya, lalu berbaring disitu.
4 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.
Ketika para pelayan perempuan dan pelayan khusus Ester datang memberitahukan tentang Mordekai, hati Ester sangat sedih. Ester kemudian mengirim pakaian kepada Mordekai supaya dia membuka kain karungnya itu, tetapi Mordekai menolak.
5 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.
Maka Ester memanggil Hatah— yang ditugaskan raja secara khusus untuk melayani Ester, dan memerintahkan dia untuk menemui dan mencari tahu dari Mordekai mengapa dia berduka.
6 And Athach going out went to Mardochai, who was standing in the street of the city, before the palace gate:
Lalu pergilah Hatah menemui Mordekai yang berada di alun-alun yang letaknya di depan pintu gerbang istana.
7 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.
Mordekai menceritakan semua yang sudah terjadi. Dia juga memberitahukan mengenai 340.000 kilogram perak yang sudah Haman janjikan untuk dimasukkan dalam kas kerajaan, apabila raja bersedia memberi perintah untuk membinasakan semua orang Yahudi.
8 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.
Mordekai juga memberikan salinan surat perintah raja yang sudah dikeluarkan di Susan— yang isinya menyatakan bahwa semua orang Yahudi harus dilenyapkan. Mordekai meminta Hatah menunjukkan serta menjelaskan surat itu kepada Ester dan memerintahkannya untuk menghadap dan memohon belas kasihan raja atas bangsanya.
9 And Athach went back and told Esther all that Mardochai had said.
Maka Hatah kembali kepada Ester dan melaporkan semua yang sudah disampaikan Mordekai.
10 She answered him, and bade him say to Mardochai:
Kemudian Ester menyuruh Hatah untuk kembali kepada Mordekai dan menyampaikan pesannya,
11 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?
“Semua pejabat negara serta masyarakat di seluruh wilayah kerajaan mengetahui peraturan kerajaan yang menyatakan siapa saja yang ingin bertemu raja tanpa undangan akan dihukum mati— kecuali bila raja mengulurkan tongkat emasnya kepada orang itu. Sedangkan saya sendiri terakhir kali menerima undangan raja lebih dari sebulan yang lalu.”
12 And when Mardochai had heard this,
Maka Hatah kembali menyampaikan pesan Ester kepada Mordekai.
13 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:
Mordekai memperingatkan Ester melalui Hatah, “Jangan pikir kamu akan lebih aman dibandingkan seluruh bangsa Yahudi lainnya karena tinggal di istana!
14 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?
Jika kamu saat ini tinggal diam, maka pertolongan dan pembebasan orang Yahudi akan datang dari tempat lain dan kamu serta keluargamu akan dibunuh. Mungkin saja kamu ditempatkan sebagai ratu di kerajaan ini untuk menyelamatkan bangsa kita!”
15 And again Esther sent to Mardochai in these words:
Kemudian Ester menyampaikan pesannya melalui Hatah kepada Mordekai,
16 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.
“Kumpulkanlah semua bangsa kita yang ada di Susan untuk berpuasa, yaitu tidak makan ataupun minum selama tiga hari tiga malam. Saya dan para pelayan perempuan juga akan berpuasa. Setelah itu saya akan menghadap raja meski pun melanggar undang-undang. Kalau memang saya harus mati karena itu, biarlah saya mati!”
17 So Mardochai went, and did all that Esther had commanded him.
Lalu pergilah Mordekai dan melaksanakan pesan Ester.
