17:004:003 And in every province, whithersoever the king’s commandment
           and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews,
           and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in
           sackcloth and ashes.

17:004:004 So Esther’s maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. 
           Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment
           to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: 
           but he received it not.

17:004:005 Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king’s chamberlains,
           whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a
           commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was.

17:004:006 So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city,
           which was before the king’s gate.

17:004:007 And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and
           of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the
           king’s treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.

17:004:008 Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that
           was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther,
           and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should
           go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to
           make request before him for her people.

17:004:009 And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.

17:004:010 Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto
           Mordecai;

17:004:011 All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s
           provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or women,
           shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not
           called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except
           such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that
           he may live:  but I have not been called to come in unto the
           king these thirty days.

17:004:012 And they told to Mordecai Esther’s words.

17:004:013 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with
           thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than
           all the Jews.

17:004:014 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then
           shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from
           another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be
           destroyed:  and who knoweth whether thou art come to the
           kingdom for such a time as this?

17:004:015 Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,

17:004:016 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan,
           and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days,
           night or day:  I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so
           will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: 
           and if I perish, I perish.