Ester 4

1 Esi Mordekai se nya si dzɔ la, edze eƒe awuwo, ta akpanya, si dzowɔ ɖe ŋuti, eye wòyi dua me henɔ avi fam sesĩe nublanuitɔe.

When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;

2 Etsi tsitre ɖe fiasã la ƒe agbo nu, elabena womeɖe mɔ be ame aɖeke nanɔ akpanya me age ɖe fiasã la me o.

And came even before the king’s gate: for none might enter into the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth.

3 Yudatɔwo ta akpanya mlɔ afi ma, tsi nu dɔ, fa avi kple ɣli, eye dzi ɖe le wo ƒo le nutowo katã me le anyigba blibo la dzi le ɖoɖo si fia la wɔ la ta.

And in every province, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

4 Esi Ester ƒe nyɔnudɔlawo kple ŋutsu tata siwo le edzi kpɔm la va gblɔ nu si Mordekai nɔ wɔwɔm nɛ la, exa nu, eye wòɖo awuwo ɖee be wòatsɔ aɖɔli akpanya si wòta la, gake melɔ̃ o.

So Esther’s maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it not.

5 Azɔ Ester ɖo Hatak, ŋutsu tata si wotia be wòasubɔe la ɖa be wòayi Mordekai gbɔ, abia nu si le fu ɖem nɛ kple nu si tae.

Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king’s chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was.

6 Ale Hatak do go yi ablɔ dzi, eye wòkpɔ Mordekai le fiasã la ƒe agboa godo.

So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king’s gate.

7 Tete Mordekai gblɔ nu siwo katã dzɔ la nɛ kple ga home si ŋugbe Haman do be yeatsɔ ade fia la ƒe gadzraɖoƒe me hena Yudatɔwo wuwu.

And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.

8 Mordekai tsɔ agbalẽ si me fia la ƒe se si wòde le Susa be woatsrɔ̃ Yudatɔwo katã le la na Hatak, eye wòbia tso esi be wòatsɔe afia Ester. Egblɔ na Hatak be wòagblɔ nya si dzɔ la na Ester, eye wòabia tso esi be wòayi fia la gbɔ, aɖe kuku nɛ be wòakpɔ nublanui na eƒe amewo.

Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people.

9 Ale Hatak trɔ yi Ester gbɔ, eye wògblɔ nya si Mordekai be wòagblɔ nɛ la nɛ.

And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.

10 Ester gblɔ na Hatak be wòayi aɖagblɔ na Mordekai be,

Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai;

11 “Fia la ƒe dɔnunɔlawo katã kple ame siwo katã le nutowo me la nya be ne ŋutsu alo nyɔnu aɖe yi ɖe fia la gbɔ le xɔ titinatɔ me, evɔ fia la meyɔe o la, se ɖeka si le nu sia ŋuti koe nye be woawu amea. Negbe ɖeko fia la tsɔ eƒe sikatikplɔ ɖo ɖee hafi wòaɖe eƒe agbe. Ke ŋkeke blaetɔ̃e nye esi fia la meɖo du ɖem o.”

All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.

12 Ale Hatak yi ɖagblɔ Ester ƒe nya la na Mordekai,

And they told to Mordecai Esther’s words.

13 eye Mordekai ɖo eŋu ɖo ɖe Ester be, “Ɖe nèbu be ye ya yeanɔ dedie le afi ma, le fiasã la me, ne wowu Yudatɔwo katã?

Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews.

14 Ne èzi ɖoɖoe le ɣeyiɣi sia tɔgbi me la, Mawu ato mɔ bubu aɖe dzi aɖe Yudatɔwo, ke wò kple fofowò ƒe aƒemetɔwo miatsrɔ̃. Gawu la, ame kae nya be Mawu ŋutɔe da wò ɖe teƒe sia le fiasã la me le ɣeyiɣi sia tɔgbi me?”

For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

15 Ester ɖo ame ɖa be woagblɔ na Mordekai be:

Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,

16 “Yi nàƒo Yudatɔ siwo katã le Susa la nu ƒu, eye miatsi nu dɔ ɖe tanye, migaɖu nu alo miano nu o, ŋkeke etɔ̃ kple zã etɔ̃. Nye kple nye subɔlawo hã míawɔ nenema ke. Ekema, togbɔ be wode se sesẽ aɖe ɖe eŋu hã la, mayi aɖakpɔ fia la kpɔ. Ne meku la, maku faa!”

Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye 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, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

17 Ale Mordekai wɔ nu si Ester ɖo nɛ.

So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.