Ester 4

1 Tango Maridoshe ayokaki makambo nyonso oyo elekaki, apasolaki bilamba na ye; alataki saki, amipakolaki putulu mpe atambolaki kati na engumba na koganga makasi mpe na mawa.

When Mordecai found out about those [letters, he was so anguished that] he tore his clothes and put on [rough] sackcloth and [threw] ashes over himself. Then he went into the city, crying very loudly.

2 Bongo akendeki kino na liboso ya ekuke ya ndako ya mokonzi; pamba te moto moko te, wana alati saki lokola elamba, azalaki na ndingisa ya kokota na ekuke ya mokonzi.

He stood outside the gate of the palace, because no one who was wearing sackcloth was allowed to enter the palace.

3 Kati na bituka nyonso epai wapi mitindo mpe mobeko ya mokonzi ezalaki kokoma, matanga monene ezalaki kati na Bayuda: bazalaki kokila bilei, kolela mpe koganga ya mawa; ebele bazalaki komitanda na basaki mpe na putulu.

In every province [of the empire], when the letter from the king was read to the Jewish people, they cried and mourned. They (fasted/abstained from eating food), and wailed loudly. Many of them also put on sackcloth and threw ashes on themselves and lay [on the ground].

4 Tango basi bawumbu ya Ester, mwasi ya Mokonzi, mpe basoda na ye, oyo baboma bango mokongo, bayebisaki Ester makambo oyo Maridoshe asalaki, Ester amitungisaki makasi. Atindelaki Maridoshe bilamba mpo ete alata yango mpe alongola basaki oyo alataki, kasi Maridoshe aboyaki.

When Esther’s maids and other officials came to her and told her what Mordecai had done, she was very distressed. So she sent to Mordecai [some good] clothes to wear instead of the sackcloth, but he refused to take them.

5 Ester abengisaki Ataki, moko kati na bakalaka ya lokumu, oyo baboma mokongo mpe mokonzi aponaki mpo na kosalela Ester; atindaki ye mpo na koyeba likambo oyo ezali kotungisa Maridoshe mpe tina nini azali komitungisa.

Then Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king’s officials whom he had appointed to help take care of Esther. She told him to go [out and talk] to Mordecai to find out what was distressing him and why [he was wearing sackcloth to show] that he was grieving.

6 Boye Ataki akendeki epai ya Maridoshe na etando ya engumba, epai wapi bato ebele bakutanaka, liboso ya ekuke ya ndako ya mokonzi.

Hathach went to Mordecai, who was in the plaza in front of the palace gate.

7 Maridoshe ayebisaki ye makambo nyonso oyo ekomelaki ye, ata motuya ya mbongo oyo Amani alakaki kopesa na libenga ya bomengo ya mokonzi mpo ete baboma Bayuda.

Mordecai told him everything that had happened. He told him how much money Haman had promised to give to the government if the king commanded that all the Jews be killed.

8 Maridoshe apesaki lisusu Ataki mokanda ya mobeko oyo mokonzi abimisaki, mpo ete ye Ataki alakisa yango epai ya Ester, alimbolela ye yango mpe akomisa epai ya Ester mitindo na ye ete Ester akende epai ya mokonzi mpo na kotungisa ye mpe kobondela mawa ya mokonzi mpo na bato na ye Ester; pamba te mokonzi asili kobimisa mobeko ya koboma Bayuda mpe sango na yango esili kopanzana kati na engumba Size.

Mordecai also gave to Hathach a copy of the decree that had been read in Susa, [in which it was stated] that all the Jews must be killed. He told Hathach to show the copy to Esther. He told Hathach to explain to Esther what (it meant/would happen). Then he told him to urge her to go to the king and request the king to act mercifully to her people.

9 Tango Ataki azongaki mpe ayebisaki Ester makambo oyo Maridoshe alobaki,

So Hathach returned to Esther and told her what Mordecai said.

10 Ester atindaki lisusu Ataki koloba na Maridoshe:

Then Esther told Hathach to [return to] Mordecai [and] tell this [to him]:

11 — Bakalaka nyonso ya mokonzi mpe bato ya bituka nyonso ya mokili ya mokonzi bayebi ete, kolanda mobeko, moto nyonso, azala mobali to mwasi, oyo akoti na lopango ya kati ya ndako ya mokonzi asengeli na kufa soki mokonzi abengisi ye te; mpe mobeko yango ezali kaka moko mpo na bato nyonso. Nzokande soki mokonzi asemboli epai ya moto yango lingenda ya wolo ya bokonzi na ye, akotikala na bomoi. Ngai sik’oyo, eleki mikolo tuku misato wuta babenga ngai mpo na kokende epai ya mokonzi; wuta mikolo wana, babenga ngai lisusu te.

“There is a law [about people going to talk to the king]. All the king’s officials and all the people in the empire know this law. [In that law it states that] anyone who goes to the king in his inner court without having been summoned by the king must be executed. Only those to whom the king has extended his scepter/staff will not be executed. And a month has passed since the king has summoned me, [so what will happen to me if I try to see him and he doesn’t want to see me?]”

12 Tango bayebisaki Maridoshe makambo oyo Ester alobaki,

So Hathach [went back to] Mordecai [and] told [him] what Esther had said.

13 Maridoshe azongiselaki Ester: — Kokanisa te ete lokola ozali kati na ndako ya mokonzi, yo moko kaka nde okobika kati na Bayuda nyonso.

Mordecai replied, “[Go back and] tell this to Esther: 'Do not think that just because you live there in the palace, you will escape when all the other Jews [are killed].

14 Pamba te soki yo okangi monoko na yo mpe olobi eloko moko te na tango oyo, lisungi mpe lobiko mpo na Bayuda ekowuta na esika mosusu; kasi yo mpe libota ya botata na yo, bokokufa. Kutu, nani ayebi soki tango mosusu ezali mpo na makambo ya boye nde okomaki na ndako ya mokonzi?

If you say nothing now, someone from some other place will rescue [many of] us Jews, but you and your relatives will be killed. Furthermore, (perhaps [God]/who knows if [God]) has put you here [as queen] (for a situation like this/to prevent this from happening to us)!'” [RHQ]

15 Ester atindelaki Maridoshe eyano oyo:

Then [after Hathach told this to] Esther, [she] told him to return to Mordecai and say this to him:

16 — Kende kosangisa Bayuda nyonso oyo bazali na engumba Size. Bokila bilei mikolo misato mpo na ngai; butu mpe moyi, bolia mpe bomela eloko te. Ngai mpe nakokila bilei elongo na basi bawumbu na ngai ndenge moko na bino. Sima na yango kaka nde nakokende epai ya mokonzi atako nakobuka mobeko. Soki mpe nakokufa, nakufa kaka!

“Gather together all the Jews here in Susa, and tell them to (fast/abstain from food) for my sake. Tell them to not eat or drink anything for three days and nights. My maids and I will also fast. Then, I will go to talk to the king. Even if (I am executed/they execute me) for disobeying the law [by seeing him when he does not hold out the scepter/staff toward me, I am willing for that to happen”].

17 Maridoshe akendeki mpe asalaki makambo nyonso oyo Ester atindaki ye.

So [after Hathach told this to Mordecai, ] Mordecai went and did what Esther told him to do.