Then QueenEstherreplied,"IfI have foundfavorin your sight,O king,and ifit pleasesthe king,let my lifebe givenme as my petition,and my peopleas my request;
His servantssaidto him, "Beholdnow,we have heardthat the kingsof the houseof Israelare mercifulkings,pleaselet us putsackclothon our loinsand ropeson our heads,and goout to the kingof Israel;perhapshe will saveyour life."
So he againsentthe captainof a thirdfiftywith his fifty.When the thirdcaptainof fiftywentup, he cameand boweddownon his kneesbeforeElijah,and beggedhim and saidto him, "O manof God,pleaselet my lifeand the livesof thesefiftyservantsof yours be preciousin your sight.
He also gavehim a copyof the textof the edictwhichhad been issuedin Susafor their destruction,that he might showEstherand informher, and to orderher to goin to the kingto implorehis favorand to pleadwith him for her people.
ifI have foundfavorin the sightof the king,and ifit pleasesthe kingto grantmy petitionand dowhatI request,may the kingand Hamancometo the banquetwhichI will preparefor them, and tomorrowI will doas the kingsays."
The kingarosein his angerfrom drinkingwine[and went] into the palacegarden;but Hamanstayedto begfor his lifefrom QueenEsther,for he sawthat harmhad been determinedagainsthim by the king.
Then she said,"Ifit pleasesthe kingand ifI have foundfavorbeforehim and the matter[seems] properto the kingand I am pleasingin his sight,let it be writtento revokethe lettersdevisedby Haman,the sonof Hammedathathe Agagite,whichhe wroteto destroythe Jewswhoare in allthe king'sprovinces.
Satanansweredthe LORDand said,"Skinfor skin!Yes, allthat a manhas he will givefor his life.
then you are to sayto them, 'I was presentingmy petitionbeforethe king,not to make me returnto the houseof Jonathanto diethere.'"
