< Esther 4 >

1 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.
Nony fantatr’ i Mordekay izay rehetra efa natao, dia nandriatra ny fitafiany izy ka nitafy lamba fisaonana sady nihosin-davenona, dia nankeo afovoan’ ny tanàna ka nitaraina sy nidradradradra mafy;
2 He stood outside the gate of the palace, because no one who was wearing sackcloth was allowed to enter the palace.
ary tonga teo anoloan’ ny vavahadin’ ny mpanjaka aza izy; nefa tsy nisy nahazo niditra teo amin’ ny vavahadin’ ny mpanjaka, raha nitafy lamba fisaonana.
3 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].
Ary tany amin’ ny isan-tokony tamin’ ny fanjakana rehetra nalehan’ ny tenin’ ny mpanjaka sy ny didiny dia nalahelo mafy ny Jiosy ka nifady hanina sy nitomany ary nidradradradra, sady maro no nandry tamin’ ny lamba fisaonana aman-davenona.
4 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.
Ary niditra ny ankizivavin’ i Estera sy ny tsindranolahiny ka nilaza izany taminy. Dia nalahelo indrindra ny vadin’ ny mpanjaka, ka nampanatitra lamba hitafin’ i Mordekay izy mba hanesorany ny lamba fisaonana taminy; nefa tsy nety nandray izy.
5 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.
Ary Estera niantso an’ i Hatàka, tsindranolahin’ i ny mpanjaka, izay notendreny hanompo azy, ka nampitondra teny azy ho any amin’ i Mordekay, mba hahafantarany izay anton’ izany.
6 Hathach went to Mordecai, who was in the plaza in front of the palace gate.
Dia nivoaka Hatàka nankany amin’ i Mordekay ho eo an-kalalahana eo an-tanàna, dia ilay eo anoloan’ ny vavahadin’ ny mpanjaka;
7 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.
dia nambaran’ i Mordekay taminy izay rehetra efa nanjo azy sy ny isan’ ny vola izay nokasain’ i Hamana haloa ho ao an-trano firaketan’ ny mpanjaka noho ny handringanana ny Jiosy.
8 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.
Ary nomeny azy koa ny kopen’ ny lalàna, izay nantsoina tany Sosana handringanana azy, mba haseho amin’ i Estera hampahafantatra azy izany sy handidy azy hiditra ao amin’ ny mpanjaka mba hifona aminy sy hangataka eo anatrehany ho an’ ny fireneny.
9 So Hathach returned to Esther and told her what Mordecai said.
Ary tonga Hatàka ka nanambara ny tenin’ i Mordekay tamin’ i Estera.
10 Then Esther told Hathach to [return to] Mordecai [and] tell this [to him]:
Fa Estera naniraka an’ i Hatàka indray hanao amin’ i Mordekay hoe:
11 “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?]”
Ny mpanompon’ ny mpanjaka rehetra sy ny olona isan-tokony eran’ ny fanjakany dia samy mahalala fa na iza na iza mankeo amin’ ny mpanjaka ho eo an-kianja anatiny, na lehilahy na vehivavy, nefa tsy nantsoina, dia misy lalàna iray ihany hahafaty azy, afa-tsy izay hotondroin’ ny mpanjaka amin’ ny tehim-bolamena hahavelona azy; ary izaho anefa dia tsy mbola nantsoina hiditra ao amin’ ny mpanjaka intsony telo-polo andro izay.
12 So Hathach [went back to] Mordecai [and] told [him] what Esther had said.
Dia nolazaina tamin’ i Mordekay ny tenin’ i Estera.
13 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].
Ary Mordekay nampitondra valiny ho amin’ i Estera hoe: Aza manao anakampo fa ho afaka mihoatra noho ny Jiosy rehetra ianao, saingy ao an-tranon’ ny mpanjaka;
14 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]
fa raha hangina mihitsy ianao amin’ izao andro izao, dia hisy fahafahana sy famonjena hiseho avy amin’ ny fitoerana hafa ho an’ ny Jiosy, fa ianao sy ny mpianakavin-drainao kosa dia haringana; ary iza no mahalala, fa angamba ho amin’ izao andro izao mihitsy no nanandratana anao ho amin’ ny fanjakana?
15 Then [after Hathach told this to] Esther, [she] told him to return to Mordecai and say this to him:
Dia nampitondra valiny ho any amin’ i Mordekay indray Estera ka nanao hoe:
16 “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”].
Mandehana ary, vorio ny Jiosy rehetra izay mba ato Sosana ary mifadia hanina noho ny amiko, ka aza mihinana na misotro hateloana na andro na alina; ary izaho sy ny ankizivaviko hifady toy izany koa, ary amin’ izany no hidirako ao amin’ ny mpanjaka, na dia tsy araka ny lalàna aza; koa raha tàhiny maty aho, dia maty.
17 So [after Hathach told this to Mordecai, ] Mordecai went and did what Esther told him to do.
Dia lasa Mordekay ka nanao araka izay rehetra nandidian’ i Estera azy.

< Esther 4 >