Книга Есфири 4
1 Мардохей же разумев замышляемое, раздра ризы своя и облечеся во вретище и посыпася пепелом: и скочив в пространную улицу града, возопи воплем великим и горьким: взимается род ничтоже преступивый.
When Mordecai learned all that had been done, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and strewed ashes on his head, and went out into the city and raised a loud and bitter cry of lamentation.
2 И прииде даже до врат царевых и ста: не леть бо бе ему внити во двор во вретище облечену и пепелом осыпану сущу.
He went as far as the king’s gate, but no one could enter the gate clothed with sackcloth.
3 И во всяцей стране, идеже показовахуся писания (царева), вопль бе и плачь и рыдание превелие Иудеом, вретище и пепел постилаху себе.
In every province, wherever the king’s command and decree went, there was great mourning, fasting, weeping, and wailing among the Jews. Many of them sat in sackcloth and ashes.
4 И внидоща рабыни и евнуси царицыны и возвестиша ей. И смятеся услышавши бывшее: и посла ризы облещи Мардохеа и сняти вретище его. И не послуша.
When Esther’s maids and attendants told her about Mordecai’s behaviour, she was greatly troubled. She sent garments for Mordecai to put on, so that he could take off his sack-cloth, but he would not accept them.
5 Есфирь же призва Ахрафеа скопца своего, предстоящаго ей,
So Esther called Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs whom he had appointed to attend her, and ordered him to go to Mordecai to learn what it all meant and the reason for it.
6 и посла его уведати от Мардохеа истину.
So Hathach went out to Mordecai, to the city square in front of the king’s gate.
7 Мардохей же сказа ему бывшее, и обещание, еже обеша Аман царю в сокровищный дом (положити) десять тысящ талант сребра, да погубит Иудей:
Mordecai told him all that had happened to him and the exact amount of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king’s treasury for the destruction of the Jews.
8 и списание (повеления) изданнаго в Сусех (граде) на погубление их даде ему, да покажет Есфири: и рече ему, заповедати ей ити молити царя и просити его о людех, поминаюши дни смирения твоего, како воспитана еси в руце моей, зане Аман вторый по цари глагола противу нам на смерть: призови Господа и глаголи царю о нас, да избавит нас от смерти.
Also he gave him a copy of the decree to destroy them, that had been published in Susa, to show to Esther for her information. He also told her to go to the king and implore his mercy and to plead with him in behalf of her people.
9 Вшед же Ахрафей, поведа Есфири вся глаголы сия.
When Hathach came and told Esther what Mordecai had said,
10 И рече Есфирь ко Ахрафею: иди к Мардохею и рцы:
she instructed Hathach to go and say to Mordecai,
11 понеже вси языцы царствия ведят, яко всяк муж или жена, иже аще внидет ко царвеи во внутренний дом не призван, несть ему спасения, точию к немуже аще прострет царь златый жезл, сей спасен будет: аз же несмь звана внити ко царю се уже тридесять дний.
‘All the king’s courtiers and the people of the king’s provinces know that for every man or woman who goes to the king into the inner court without being called there is one penalty, death, unless the king holds out the golden sceptre signifying that they may live. It has been thirty days since I have been called to go in to the king.’
12 И возвести Ахрафей Мардохею вся глаголы Есфирины.
When Mordecai was told what Esther had said,
13 И рече Мардохей ко Ахрафею: иди и рцы ей: Есфире, да не речеши в себе, яко ты едина спасешися во царствии паче всех Иудей:
he sent back this reply to Esther, ‘Don’t imagine that you alone of all the Jews will escape because you belong to the king’s household.
14 зане аще преслушаеши в сие время, отинуду помощь и покров будет Иудеом, ты же и дом отца твоего погибнете: и кто весть, аще на сие время воцарилася еси?
If you persist in remaining silent at this time, relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another quarter, but you and your family will perish. Who knows? Maybe you have been raised to the throne for a time like this!’
15 И посла Есфирь пришедшаго к ней ко Мардохею, глаголющи:
Then Esther sent this message to Mordecai:
16 шед собери Иудеи иже в Сусех, и поститеся о мне, и не ядите ниже пийте три дни день и нощь: аз же и служебницы моя (такожде) не имамы ясти: и тогда вниду ко царю кроме закона, аще и погибнути ми приключится.
‘Go, gather all the Jews in Susa and fast for me. Don’t eat nor drink anything for three days and nights. My maids and I will fast as well. Then I will go in to the king, although it is contrary to the law, and if I die, I die.’
17 И шед Мардохей сотвори, елика заповеда ему Есфирь.
Mordecai did everything Esther had directed.
