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.
Now when Mardochai had heard these things, he rent his garments, and put on sackcloth, strewing ashes on his head: and he cried with a loud voice in the street in the midst of the city, shewing the anguish of his mind.
2 И прииде даже до врат царевых и ста: не леть бо бе ему внити во двор во вретище облечену и пепелом осыпану сущу.
And he came lamenting in this manner even to the gate of the palace: for no one clothed with sackcloth might enter the king’s court.
3 И во всяцей стране, идеже показовахуся писания (царева), вопль бе и плачь и рыдание превелие Иудеом, вретище и пепел постилаху себе.
And in all provinces, towns, and places, to which the king’s cruel edict was come, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, wailing, and weeping, many using sackcloth and ashes for their bed.
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.
Then Esther’s maids and her eunuchs went in, and told her. And when she heard it she was in a consternation: and she sent a garment, to clothe him, and to take away the sackcloth: but he would not receive it.
5 Есфирь же призва Ахрафеа скопца своего, предстоящаго ей,
And she called for Athach the eunuch, whom the king had appointed to attend upon her, and she commanded him to go to Mardochai, and learn of him why he did this.
6 и посла его уведати от Мардохеа истину.
And Athach going out went to Mardochai, who was standing in the street of the city, before the palace gate:
7 Мардохей же сказа ему бывшее, и обещание, еже обеша Аман царю в сокровищный дом (положити) десять тысящ талант сребра, да погубит Иудей:
And Mardochai told him all that had happened, how Aman had promised to pay money into the king’s treasures, to have the Jews destroyed.
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.
He gave him also a copy of the edict which was hanging up in Susan, that he should shew it to the queen, and admonish her to go in to the king, and to entreat him for her people.
9 Вшед же Ахрафей, поведа Есфири вся глаголы сия.
And Athach went back and told Esther all that Mardochai had said.
10 И рече Есфирь ко Ахрафею: иди к Мардохею и рцы:
She answered him, and bade him say to Mardochai:
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 servants, and all the provinces that are under his dominion, know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, cometh into the king’s inner court, who is not called for, is immediately to be put to death without any delay: except the king shall hold out the golden sceptre to him, in token of clemency, that so he may live. How then can I go in to the king, who for these thirty days now have not been called unto him?
12 И возвести Ахрафей Мардохею вся глаголы Есфирины.
And when Mardochai had heard this,
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 word to Esther again, saying: Think not that thou mayst save thy life only, because thou art in the king a house, more than all the Jews:
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?
For if thou wilt now hold thy peace, the Jews shall be delivered by some other occasion: and thou, and thy father’s house shall perish. And who knoweth whether thou art not therefore come to the kingdom, that thou mightest be ready in such a time as this?
15 И посла Есфирь пришедшаго к ней ко Мардохею, глаголющи:
And again Esther sent to Mardochai in these words:
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, and gather together all the Jews whom thou shalt find in Susan, and pray ye for me. Neither eat nor drink for three days and three nights: and I with my handmaids will fast in like manner, and then I will go in to the king, against the law, not being called, and expose myself to death and to danger.
17 И шед Мардохей сотвори, елика заповеда ему Есфирь.
So Mardochai went, and did all that Esther had commanded him.
