13. "All the servants of the king and all the provinces that are under his realm understand that anyone, whether man or woman, who enters the king's inner court, who has not been summoned, is immediately to be put to death without any delay, unless the king should happen to extend the golden scepter to him, as a sign of clemency, so that he will be able to live. How then can I go in to the king, when, for thirty days now, I have not been called to him?"
14. And when Mordecai had heard this, he again sent word to Esther, saying, "Do not think that you will save so much as your own soul, just because you are in the king's house and are above all the Jews.
15. For, if you remain silent now, the Jews will be delivered through some other opportunity, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for this reason, so that you would be prepared for such a time as this?"
16. And he entrusted her (there was no question but that it was Mordecai) to go in to the king, and to petition on behalf of her people and her native land.
17. And again Esther sent to Mordecai in these words:
18. "Go and gather together all the Jews whom you will find in Susa, and pray for me. Neither eat nor drink for three days and three nights, and I will fast with my handmaids similarly, and then I will go in to the king, doing what is against the law, not having been called, and so expose myself to mortal danger."
19. And so Mordecai went, and he did everything that Esther had instructed him.
20. Now Mordecai beseeched the Lord, remembering all his works,
21. and he said, "O Lord, Lord, almighty King, truly all things are possible for you, and there is no one who is able to resist your will, if you would determine to save Israel.
22. You have created heaven and earth, and everything that is contained under the cycle of heaven.
23. You are Lord of all, and there is no one who can resist your majesty.
24. You know everything, and you know that it was not out of arrogance or indignation or some desire for glory that I did this, so that I refused to adore the very proud Haman.
25. (For I was freely prepared, for the sake of the salvation of Israel, to have willingly kissed even the footsteps of his feet.)
26. But I feared, lest I should transfer the honor of my God to a man, and lest I should adore anyone except my God.