Chapter 4

1When Mordechai learned all that had happened, Mordechai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes. He went through the city, crying out loudly and bitterly,

u-mor-DO-khai ya-DA ayt kol a-SHER na-a-SA, va-yik-RA mor-DO-khai et b'-ga-DAV, va-yil-BASH sak va-E-fer, va-YAY-tse b'-TOCH ha-iR, va-YIZ-aK ze-A-kah g'-DO-lah u-ma-RAH.

אוּמׇרְדֳּכַ֗י יָדַע֙ אֶת־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר נַעֲשָׂ֔ה וַיִּקְרַ֤ע מׇרְדֳּכַי֙ אֶת־בְּגָדָ֔יו וַיִּלְבַּ֥שׁ שַׂ֖ק וָאֵ֑פֶר וַיֵּצֵא֙ בְּת֣וֹךְ הָעִ֔יר וַיִּזְעַ֛ק זְעָקָ֥ה גְדוֹלָ֖ה וּמָרָֽה׃

2until he came in front of the palace gate; for one could not enter the palace gate wearing sackcloth.—

vai-YA-vo AD lif-NAY sha-AR ha-ME-lekh, KEE AYN la-VO el sha-AR ha-ME-lekh bil-VUSH sak

בוַיָּב֕וֹא עַ֖ד לִפְנֵ֣י שַֽׁעַר־הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ כִּ֣י אֵ֥ין לָב֛וֹא אֶל־שַׁ֥עַר הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ בִּלְב֥וּשׁ שָֽׂק׃

3Also, in every province that the king's command and decree reached, there was great mourning among the Yehudim, with fasting, weeping, and wailing, and everybody lay in sackcloth and ashes.—

u-v'-KOL m'-dee-NAH u-m'-dee-NAH m'-KOM a-SHER d'-VAR ha-ME-lekh v'-da-TO ma-gi-AH a-VAYL ga-DOL la-y'-hu-DEEM u-TZOM u-v'-KHEE u-mis-PAYD sak va-E-fer yu-TZA la-ra-BEEM

גוּבְכׇל־מְדִינָ֣ה וּמְדִינָ֗ה מְקוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר דְּבַר־הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ וְדָתוֹ֙ מַגִּ֔יעַ אֵ֤בֶל גָּדוֹל֙ לַיְּהוּדִ֔ים וְצ֥וֹם וּבְכִ֖י וּמִסְפֵּ֑ד שַׂ֣ק וָאֵ֔פֶר יֻצַּ֖ע לָֽרַבִּֽים׃

4When Esther's maidens and eunuchs came and informed her, the queen was greatly agitated. She sent clothing for Mordechai to wear, so that he might take off his sackcloth; but he refused.

(va-ta-vo-EE-na) [va-to-VO-na] na-a-ROT es-TAYR v'-sa-REE-se-HA va-ya-GEE-du LAH va-tit-khal-KHAL ha-mal-KAH me-OD va-tish-LAKH b'-ga-DEEM l'-hal-BEESH et mor-do-KHAI u-l'-ha-SEER sa-KO me-a-LAV v'-lo ki-BEL

ד(ותבואינה) [וַ֠תָּב֠וֹאנָה] נַעֲר֨וֹת אֶסְתֵּ֤ר וְסָרִיסֶ֙יהָ֙ וַיַּגִּ֣ידוּ לָ֔הּ וַתִּתְחַלְחַ֥ל הַמַּלְכָּ֖ה מְאֹ֑ד וַתִּשְׁלַ֨ח בְּגָדִ֜ים לְהַלְבִּ֣ישׁ אֶֽת־מׇרְדֳּכַ֗י וּלְהָסִ֥יר שַׂקּ֛וֹ מֵעָלָ֖יו וְלֹ֥א קִבֵּֽל׃

5Thereupon Esther summoned Hathach, one of the eunuchs whom the king had appointed to serve her, and sent him to Mordechai to learn the why and wherefore of it all.

va-tik-RA es-TER la-ha-TAKH mi-sa-REE-sei ha-ME-lekh a-SHER he-e-MID le-fa-NE-ha va-t'-tza-VE-hu al mor-do-KHAI la-DA-at mah-ZEH v'-al mah-ZEH

הוַתִּקְרָא֩ אֶסְתֵּ֨ר לַהֲתָ֜ךְ מִסָּרִיסֵ֤י הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֶעֱמִ֣יד לְפָנֶ֔יהָ וַתְּצַוֵּ֖הוּ עַֽל־מׇרְדֳּכָ֑י לָדַ֥עַת מַה־זֶּ֖ה וְעַל־מַה־זֶּֽה׃

6Hathach went out to Mordechai in the city square in front of the palace gate;

vai-YAY-tzay ha-TAKH el mor-DOKHAI, el r'-KHOV ha-IR a-SHER lif-NAY sha-AR ha-ME-lekh

ווַיֵּצֵ֥א הֲתָ֖ךְ אֶֽל־מׇרְדֳּכָ֑י אֶל־רְח֣וֹב הָעִ֔יר אֲשֶׁ֖ר לִפְנֵ֥י שַֽׁעַר־הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

7and Mordechai told him all that had happened to him, and all about the money that Haman had offered to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Yehudim.

vai-YA-ged-lo mor-da-KHAI et kol a-SHER ka-RA-hu, v'-et pa-RA-shat ha-KE-sef a-SHER a-MAR ha-MAN lish-KOL al-gin-ZAY ha-ME-lekh (ba-y'-hu-DI-yim) [ba-y'-hu-DI-yim] l'-a-be-DAM

זוַיַּגֶּד־ל֣וֹ מׇרְדֳּכַ֔י אֵ֖ת כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר קָרָ֑הוּ וְאֵ֣ת ׀ פָּרָשַׁ֣ת הַכֶּ֗סֶף אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָמַ֤ר הָמָן֙ לִ֠שְׁק֠וֹל עַל־גִּנְזֵ֥י הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ (ביהודיים) [בַּיְּהוּדִ֖ים] לְאַבְּדָֽם׃

8He also gave him the written text of the law that had been proclaimed in Shushan for their destruction. [He bade him] show it to Esther and inform her, and charge her to go to the king and to appeal to him and to plead with him for her people.

v'-et PAT-she-GEN k'-TAV-ha-DAT a-SHER ni-TAN b'-shu-SHAN l'-hash-mi-DAM na-TAN LO l'-har-OT et ES-ter u-l'-ha-GID LAH u-l'-tza-VOT a-LE-ha la-VO el ha-ME-lekh l'-hit-cha-NEN-LO u-l'-va-KE-sh mi-le-FA-nav al-a-MAH

חוְאֶת־פַּתְשֶׁ֣גֶן כְּתָֽב־הַ֠דָּ֠ת אֲשֶׁר־נִתַּ֨ן בְּשׁוּשָׁ֤ן לְהַשְׁמִידָם֙ נָ֣תַן ל֔וֹ לְהַרְא֥וֹת אֶת־אֶסְתֵּ֖ר וּלְהַגִּ֣יד לָ֑הּ וּלְצַוּ֣וֹת עָלֶ֗יהָ לָב֨וֹא אֶל־הַמֶּ֧לֶךְ לְהִֽתְחַנֶּן־ל֛וֹ וּלְבַקֵּ֥שׁ מִלְּפָנָ֖יו עַל־עַמָּֽהּ׃

9When Hathach came and delivered Mordechai's message to Esther,

vai-YA-vo ha-TAKH va-ya-GAYD l'-es-TER AYT div-RAY mor-do-KHAI

טוַיָּב֖וֹא הֲתָ֑ךְ וַיַּגֵּ֣ד לְאֶסְתֵּ֔ר אֵ֖ת דִּבְרֵ֥י מׇרְדֳּכָֽי׃

10Esther told Hathach to take back to Mordechai the following reply:

va-TOM-er es-TEYR la-ha-TAKH va-t'-za-VEY-hu el mor-DO-khai

יוַתֹּ֤אמֶר אֶסְתֵּר֙ לַהֲתָ֔ךְ וַתְּצַוֵּ֖הוּ אֶֽל־מׇרְדֳּכָֽי׃

11“All the king's courtiers and the people of the king's provinces know that if any person, man or woman, enters the king's presence in the inner court without having been summoned, there is but one law for him—that he be put to death. Only if the king extends the golden scepter to him may he live. Now I have not been summoned to visit the king for the last thirty days.”

kol-a-v'-DAY ha-m'-LEKH v'-am-m'-dee-NOT ha-m'-LEKH yo-D'-EEM a-SHER kol-EESH v'-i-SHA a-SHER ya-vo-EL ha-m'-LEKH el he-kha-TZEER ha-p'-nee-MEET a-SHER lo yi-ka-RAY a-KHAT da-TO l'-ha-MEET l'-va-D me-a-SHER yo-SHEET-LO ha-m'-LEKH et-shar-VEET ha-za-HAV v'-kha-YAH va-a-NEE lo nik-ray-TEE la-vo-ET el ha-m'-LEKH ZEH sh'-lo-SHEEM YOM

יאכׇּל־עַבְדֵ֣י הַמֶּ֡לֶךְ וְעַם־מְדִינ֨וֹת הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ יֹֽדְעִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר כׇּל־אִ֣ישׁ וְאִשָּׁ֡ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר יָבֽוֹא־אֶל־הַמֶּ֩לֶךְ֩ אֶל־הֶחָצֵ֨ר הַפְּנִימִ֜ית אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־יִקָּרֵ֗א אַחַ֤ת דָּתוֹ֙ לְהָמִ֔ית לְ֠בַ֠ד מֵאֲשֶׁ֨ר יֽוֹשִׁיט־ל֥וֹ הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ אֶת־שַׁרְבִ֥יט הַזָּהָ֖ב וְחָיָ֑ה וַאֲנִ֗י לֹ֤א נִקְרֵ֙אתִי֙ לָב֣וֹא אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ זֶ֖ה שְׁלוֹשִׁ֥ים יֽוֹם׃

12When Mordechai was told what Esther had said,

vai-YA-gi-DOO l'-mor-DO-khai AYT div-RAY es-TAYR.

יבוַיַּגִּ֣ידוּ לְמׇרְדֳּכָ֔י אֵ֖ת דִּבְרֵ֥י אֶסְתֵּֽר׃

13Mordechai had this message delivered to Esther: “Do not imagine that you, of all the Yehudim, will escape with your life by being in the king's palace.

vai-YO-mer mor-da-KHAI l'-ha-SHEEV el es-TER, al t'-da-MEE v'-naf-SHEKH l'-hi-ma-LET bayt ha-ME-lekh mi-KOL ha-y'-hu-DEEM

יגוַיֹּ֥אמֶר מׇרְדֳּכַ֖י לְהָשִׁ֣יב אֶל־אֶסְתֵּ֑ר אַל־תְּדַמִּ֣י בְנַפְשֵׁ֔ךְ לְהִמָּלֵ֥ט בֵּית־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ מִכׇּל־הַיְּהוּדִֽים׃

14On the contrary, if you keep silent in this crisis, relief and deliverance will come to the Yehudim from another quarter, while you and your father's house will perish. And who knows, perhaps you have attained to royal position for just such a crisis.”

KEE im ha-kha-RAYSH ta-kha-ree-SHEE ba-AYT ha-ZOT RE-vakh v'-ha-tza-LAH ya-a-MOD la-y'-hu-DEEM mi-ma-KOM a-KHAYR v'-AT u-VAYT a-VEEKH to-VAY-du u-MEE yo-DAY-a im l'-AYT ka-ZOT hi-GA-at la-mal-KHUT

ידכִּ֣י אִם־הַחֲרֵ֣שׁ תַּחֲרִ֘ישִׁי֮ בָּעֵ֣ת הַזֹּאת֒ רֶ֣וַח וְהַצָּלָ֞ה יַעֲמ֤וֹד לַיְּהוּדִים֙ מִמָּק֣וֹם אַחֵ֔ר וְאַ֥תְּ וּבֵית־אָבִ֖יךְ תֹּאבֵ֑דוּ וּמִ֣י יוֹדֵ֔עַ אִם־לְעֵ֣ת כָּזֹ֔את הִגַּ֖עַתְּ לַמַּלְכֽוּת׃

15Then Esther sent back this answer to Mordechai:

va-TOM-er es-TEYR l'-ha-SHEEV el mor-DU-khai

טווַתֹּ֥אמֶר אֶסְתֵּ֖ר לְהָשִׁ֥יב אֶֽל־מׇרְדֳּכָֽי׃

16“Go, assemble all the Yehudim who live in Shushan, and fast in my behalf; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens will observe the same fast. Then I shall go to the king, though it is contrary to the law; and if I am to perish, I shall perish!”

LEKH k'-NOS et-KOL ha-y'-hu-DEEM ha-nim-tz'-EEM b'-shu-SHAN v'-Tzu-MU a-LAI v'-al-TO-kh'-LU v'-al-tish-TO sh'-LO-shet ya-MEEM la-Y'-LAH va-YOM gam-a-NEE v'-na-a-RO-tai a-TZUM KEN u-v'-KEN a-VO el ha-ME-lekh a-SHER lo-KHA-dat v'-ka-a-SHER a-va-D'-TEE a-va-D'-TEE

טזלֵךְ֩ כְּנ֨וֹס אֶת־כׇּל־הַיְּהוּדִ֜ים הַֽנִּמְצְאִ֣ים בְּשׁוּשָׁ֗ן וְצ֣וּמוּ עָ֠לַ֠י וְאַל־תֹּאכְל֨וּ וְאַל־תִּשְׁתּ֜וּ שְׁלֹ֤שֶׁת יָמִים֙ לַ֣יְלָה וָי֔וֹם גַּם־אֲנִ֥י וְנַעֲרֹתַ֖י אָצ֣וּם כֵּ֑ן וּבְכֵ֞ן אָב֤וֹא אֶל־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־כַדָּ֔ת וְכַאֲשֶׁ֥ר אָבַ֖דְתִּי אָבָֽדְתִּי׃

17So Mordechai went about [the city] and did just as Esther had commanded him.

vai-ya-a-VOR mor-do-KHAI, vai-YA-as k'-KOL a-SHER tzi-v'-TAH a-LAV es-TER. (s)

יזוַֽיַּעֲבֹ֖ר מׇרְדֳּכָ֑י וַיַּ֕עַשׂ כְּכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־צִוְּתָ֥ה עָלָ֖יו אֶסְתֵּֽר׃