Then Esther'smaidensand her eunuchscameand toldher, and the queenwrithedin greatanguish. And she sentgarmentsto clotheMordecaithat he might removehis sackclothfrom him, but he did not accept[them].
Then allhis sonsand allhis daughtersaroseto comforthim, but he refusedto be comforted.And he said,"SurelyI will godownto Sheolin mourningfor my son."So his fatherweptfor him.
Then he liftedup his faceto the windowand said,"Whois on my side?Who?"And twoor threeofficialslookeddownat him.
But QueenVashtirefusedto comeat the king'scommanddeliveredby the eunuchs.Then the kingbecameveryangryand his wrathburnedwithin him.
In eachand everyprovincewherethe commandand decreeof the kingcame,there was greatmourningamong the Jews,with fasting,weepingand wailing;and manylayon sackclothand ashes.
Then EsthersummonedHathachfrom the king'seunuchs,whomthe king had appointedto attendher, and orderedhim [to go] to Mordecaito learnwhatthis[was] and whyit [was].
In the dayof my troubleI soughtthe Lord;In the nightmy handwas stretchedout withoutweariness;My soulrefusedto be comforted.
Let not the foreignerwho has joinedhimself to the LORDsay,"The LORDwill surelyseparateme from His people."Norlet the eunuchsay,"Behold,I am a drytree."
Thussaysthe LORD,"A voiceis heardin Ramah,Lamentation[and] bitterweeping.Rachelis weepingfor her children;She refusesto be comfortedfor her children,Becausethey are nomore."
Sohe gotup and went;and there was an Ethiopianeunuch,a court officialof Candace,queenof the Ethiopians,whowas in chargeof allher treasure;and he had cometo Jerusalemto worship,
"He will takea tenthof your seedand of your vineyardsand giveto his officersand to his servants.
