Esta 4

1 Mgbe Mọdekai nụrụ ihe mere, ọ dọwara uwe ya, yikwasị onwe ya akwa mkpe, werekwa ntụ kpokwasị onwe ya, pụọ baa nʼime obodo, na-eti mkpu akwa.

But Mardochæus having perceived what was done, rent his garments, and put on sackcloth, and sprinkled dust upon himself; and having rushed forth through the open street of the city, he cried with a loud voice, A nation that has done no wrong is going to be destroyed.

2 Ọ bịaruru nʼọnụ ụzọ ama nke ụlọeze guzo nʼebe ahụ, nʼihi na ọ dịghị onye a na-ekwe ka o yiri akwa mkpe banye nʼogige ụlọeze.

And he came to the king’s gate, and stood; for it was not lawful for him to enter into the palace, wearing sackcloth and ashes.

3 Nʼalaeze ahụ ndị Juu niile, nọ nʼiru ụjụ na ibu ọnụ na ịkwa akwa na iti aka nʼobi nʼihi iwu eze ahụ. Ọtụtụ yikwa akwa mkpe ha, dinarakwa na ntụ.

And in every province where the letters were published, [there was] crying and lamentation and great mourning on the part of the Jews: they spread for themselves sackcloth and ashes.

4 Mgbe ụmụ agbọghọ na ndị onozi Esta gwara ya ihe banyere Mọdekai, o wutere ya nke ukwuu. O zigaara Mọdekai uwe, ka o nwee ike gbanwee uwe mkpe ahụ o yi, ma ọ naraghị ha.

And the queen’s maids and chamberlains went in and told her: and when she had heard what was done, she was disturbed; and she sent to clothe Mardochæus, and take away his sackcloth; but he consented not.

5 Mgbe ahụ, Esta ziri ka a kpọọ Hatak, otu nʼime ndị onozi eze, onye nke ọ bụ ọrụ ya ijere Esta ozi, gwa ya ka o jekwuru Mọdekai jụọ ya ihe kpatara nke a, na ihe mere o ji na-eme otu a.

So Esther called for her chamberlain Achrathæus, who waited upon her; and she sent to learn the truth from Mardochæus.

6 Hatak jere nʼama obodo ahụ ebe ọ hụrụ Mọdekai nʼọnụ ụzọ ụlọeze.

7 Mọdekai kọọrọ ya ihe niile, na otu Heman si kwee nkwa ịkwụnye ego nʼụlọakụ eze ka e were laa ndị Juu nʼiyi.

And Mardochæus shewed him what was done, and the promise which Aman had made the king of ten thousand talents [to be paid] into the treasury, that he might destroy the Jews.

8 O nyekwara ya akwụkwọ iwu eze ebe e dere maka ịla ha nʼiyi, bụ nke akpọsara na Susa, ka o gosi ya Esta, kọwaakwa ya nye ya. Ọ gwara ya ka o nye ya iwu ka ọ bakwuru eze rịọ ya arịrịọ amara, rịọkwa ya ebere nʼihi ndị ya.

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 Hatak lọghachiri zie Esta ihe niile Mọdekai kwuru.

So Achrathæus went in and told her all these words.

10 Ma Esta gwara Hatak ka o jeghachi gwa Mọdekai sị,

And Esther said to Achrathæus, Go to Mardochæus, and say,

11 “Ụwa niile maara nke ọma na onye ọbụla, maọbụ nwoke maọbụ nwanyị, banyere nʼime ime ụlọeze mgbe eze na-akpọghị ya, ga-anwụ, karịakwa ma eze o setịpụrụ mkpara ọlaedo ya gosi onye ahụ na ọ nabatara ọbịbịa ya. Ugbu a, o meela ihe dị ka otu ọnwa kemgbe eze na-ezibeghị ozi ka a kpọọ m.”

All the nations of the empire know, that whoever, man or woman, shall go in to the king into the inner court uncalled, that person cannot live: only to whomsoever the king shall stretch out [his] golden sceptre, he shall live: and I have not been called to go in to the king, for these thirty days.

12 Mgbe ha gwara Mọdekai ihe Esta zara,

And Achrathæus reported to Mardochæus all the words of Esther.

13 o zighachiri ọsịsa a, “Echela nʼihi na i bi nʼụlọeze na naanị gị ga-afọdụ ndụ nʼetiti ndị Juu niile.

Then Mardochæus said to Achrathæus, Go, and say to her, Esther, say not to thyself that thou alone wilt escape in the kingdom, more than all the [other] Jews.

14 Ọ bụrụ na ị gba nkịtị nʼoge a, oghere na napụta ndị Juu ga-esite nʼụzọ ọzọ bịa, ma gị onwe gị na ụlọ nna gị ga-ala nʼiyi. Onye makwanụ ihe mere i ji nọrọ nʼụlọeze nʼoge dị otu a?”

For if thou shalt refuse to hearken on this occasion, help and protection will be to the Jews from another quarter; but thou and thy father’s house will perish: and who knows, if thou hast been made queen for this [very] occasion?

15 Mgbe ahụ, Esta zara Mọdekai sị;

And Esther sent the [man] that came to her to Mardochæus, saying,

16 “Gaa kpọkọtaa ndị Juu niile bi na Susa, bukwaaranụ m ọnụ. Unu erila ihe ọbụla, maọbụ ṅụọ ihe ọbụla abalị atọ, ehihie na abalị. Mụ onwe m kwa, na ụmụ agbọghọ na-ejere m ozi, ga-emekwa otu ihe ahụ. Emesịa, ọ bụ ezie na ọ bụ ihe megidere iwu, ma aga m aga hụ eze anya. Ihe ọ pụtara ya pụta. Ọ pụtara m ọnwụ, ka m nwụọ!”

Go and assemble the Jews that are in Susa, and fast ye for me, and eat not and drink not for three days, night and day: and I also and my maidens will fast; and then I will go in to the king contrary to the law, even if I must die.

17 Mọdekai pụrụ, gaa mee dịka Esta gwara ya.

So Mardochaeus went and did all that Esther commanded him.