Esta 4
1 Mordekai alipojua yote yaliyokwisha kufanyika, alirarua mavazi yake na kuvaa nguo za magunia na kujipaka majivu, akaenda mjini, akiomboleza kwa sauti na kwa uchungu.
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 Alikwenda akasimama nje ya lango la mfalme, kwa sababu hakuna yeyote aliyeruhusiwa kuingia akiwa amevaa nguo za magunia.
He stood outside the gate of the palace, because no one who was wearing sackcloth was allowed to enter the palace.
3 Katika kila jimbo ambapo amri na agizo la mfalme lilifika, kulikuwa na maombolezo makuu miongoni mwa Wayahudi pamoja na kufunga, kulia na kuomboleza. Watu wengi wakalala juu ya nguo za magunia na majivu.
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 Wajakazi wa Esta na matowashi walipokuja na kumwambia kuhusu Mordekai, alipatwa na huzuni kuu. Alimtumia nguo avae badala ya nguo za magunia, lakini Mordekai hakuzikubali.
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 Ndipo Esta akamwita Hathaki, mmojawapo wa matowashi wa mfalme ambaye alikuwa amewekwa kumhudumia Esta, akamwagiza kutafuta ni nini kilikuwa kikimtaabisha Mordekai na ni kwa nini.
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 Basi Hathaki alitoka nje kumwendea Mordekai kwenye uwanja ulio wazi wa mji mbele ya lango la mfalme.
Hathach went to Mordecai, who was in the plaza in front of the palace gate.
7 Mordekai akamwambia kila kitu ambacho kimempata, pamoja na hesabu kamili ya fedha ambazo Hamani aliahidi kulipa katika hazina ya mfalme kwa ajili ya maangamizi ya Wayahudi.
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 Akampa nakala ya andiko la amri kwa ajili ya maangamizi yao, lililokuwa limechapishwa huko Shushani, kumwonyesha Esta na kumwelezea. Mordekai akamwambia towashi amshawishi Esta kwenda mbele ya mfalme kuomba rehema na kumsihi kwa ajili ya watu wake.
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 Hathaki akarudi kwa Esta na kumwarifu alilolisema Mordekai.
So Hathach returned to Esther and told her what Mordecai said.
10 Kisha Esta akamwamuru Hathaki amweleze Mordekai,
Then Esther told Hathach to [return to] Mordecai [and] tell this [to him]:
11 “Maafisa wote wa mfalme na watu wa majimbo ya ufalme wanajua kuwa mwanaume au mwanamke yeyote ambaye ataingia kumwona mfalme katika ua wa ndani bila kuitwa, mfalme ana sheria moja tu: Atauawa. Njia pekee kinyume na hili ni mfalme kumnyooshea fimbo ya dhahabu ili aishi. Lakini siku thelathini zimepita tangu nilipoitwa kwenda kwa mfalme.”
“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 Wakati Mordekai aliarifiwa maneno ya Esta,
So Hathach [went back to] Mordecai [and] told [him] what Esther had said.
13 Mordekai alirudisha jibu hili: “Usifikiri kwamba kwa sababu uko katika nyumba ya mfalme wewe pekee katika Wayahudi wote utapona.
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 Kwa kuwa kama utakaa kimya wakati huu, msaada na ukombozi kwa Wayahudi utatoka mahali pengine, lakini wewe na jamaa ya baba yako mtaangamia. Nani ajuaye kwamba hukuja kwenye nafasi ya mamlaka kwa ajili ya wakati kama huu?”
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 Kisha Esta alituma jibu hili kwa Mordekai:
Then [after Hathach told this to] Esther, [she] told him to return to Mordecai and say this to him:
16 “Nenda, kusanya pamoja Wayahudi wote walioko Shushani, nanyi mfunge kwa ajili yangu. Msile wala kunywa kwa siku tatu, usiku na mchana. Mimi na wajakazi wangu tutafunga kama mnavyofanya. Baada ya kufanyika hili, nitakwenda kwa mfalme, hata ingawa ni kinyume cha sheria. Ikiwa ni kuangamia na niangamie.”
“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 Kwa hiyo Mordekai alikwenda zake na kutekeleza maagizo yote ya Esta.
So [after Hathach told this to Mordecai, ] Mordecai went and did what Esther told him to do.
