Livro de Ester 4

SAGRADA BIBLIA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Quando Mardoqueu soube o que se tinha passado, rasgou suas vestes, cobriu-se de saco e cinza, e percorreu a cidade, dando gritos de dor.	1 When Mordecai learned all that was happening, he tore his garments, put on sackcloth and ashes, and walked through the city crying out loudly and bitterly,
2 Veio desse modo até diante da porta do rei, pela qual ninguém tinha o direito de passar com vestes de luto.	2 till he came before the royal gate, which no one clothed in sackcloth might enter.
3 Em cada província, em toda parte onde chegava a ordem do rei e seu edito, havia grande desolação entre os judeus. Jejuaram, choraram e fizeram lamentações; e muitos se deitavam sobre o saco e a cinza.	3 (Likewise in each of the provinces, wherever the king's legal enactment reached, the Jews went into deep mourning, with fasting, weeping, and lament; they all slept on sackcloth and ashes.)
4 As criadas de Ester e seus eunucos vieram contar-lhe o que se passava, e isso lhe causou grande temor. Mandou roupas para revestir Mardoqueu, fazendo-lhe despir o saco de que estava coberto, mas ele não as aceitou.	4 Queen Esther's maids and eunuchs came and told her. Overwhelmed with anguish, she sent garments for Mordecai to put on, so that he might take off his sackcloth; but he refused.
5 Então Ester, chamando Atac, um dos eunucos que o rei pusera a seu serviço, encarregou-o de perguntar a Mardoqueu o que significavam aqueles sinais de dor.	5 Esther then summoned Hathach, one of the king's eunuchs whom he had placed at her service, and commanded him to find out what this action of Mordecai meant and the reason for it.
6 Atac foi ter com Mardoqueu, que estava na praça da cidade, diante da porta do rei.	6 So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the public square in front of the royal gate,
7 Soube dele tudo o que tinha acontecido e a quantia de dinheiro que Amã tinha prometido recolher ao tesouro real em troca da destruição dos judeus.	7 and Mordecai told him all that had happened, as well as the exact amount of silver Haman had promised to pay to the royal treasury for the slaughter of the Jews.
8 Mardoqueu lhe entregou também uma cópia do edito, publicado em Susa para exterminá-los. Devia mostrá-la a Ester, pô-la a par de tudo e movê-la a ir ter com o rei para implorar sua graça e interceder junto dele em favor do povo.	8 He also gave him a copy of the written decree for their destruction which had been promulgated in Susa, to show and explain to Esther. He was to instruct her to go to the king; she was to plead and intercede with him in behalf of her people. (8b) Remember the days of your lowly estate," Mordecai had him say, "when you were brought up in my charge; for Haman, who is second to the king, has asked for our death.
9 Atac veio referir a Ester as palavras de Mardoqueu,	9 Invoke the Lord and speak to the king for us: save us from death." Hathach returned to Esther and told her what Mordecai had said.
10 mas a rainha mandou Atac responder-lhe:	10 Then Esther replied to Hathach and gave him this message for Mordecai:
11 Todos os servos do rei e o povo de suas províncias sabem bem que, para quem quer que seja, homem ou mulher, que penetrar sem ser chamado na câmara interior do palácio, há uma lei real condenando-o à morte, exceção feita somente àquele para o qual o rei estender seu cetro de ouro, conservando-lhe a vida. E eis que são já trinta dias que não sou chamada junto ao rei.	11 "All the servants of the king and the people of his provinces know that any man or woman who goes to the king in the inner court without being summoned, suffers the automatic penalty of death, unless the king extends to him the golden scepter, thus sparing his life. Now as for me, I have not been summoned to the king for thirty days."
12 As palavras de Ester foram referidas a Mardoqueu, e este lhe mandou responder:	12 When Esther's words were reported to Mordecai,
13 Não imagines que serás a única entre todos os judeus a escapar, por estares no palácio.	13 he had this reply brought to her: "Do not imagine that because you are in the king's palace, you alone of all the Jews will escape.
14 Se te calares agora, o socorro e a libertação virão aos judeus de outra parte; mas tu e a casa de teu pai perecereis. E quem sabe se não foi para essas circunstâncias que chegaste à realeza.	14 Even if you now remain silent, relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another source; but you and your father's house will perish. Who knows but that it was for a time like this that you obtained the royal dignity?"
15 Ester mandou responder a Mardoqueu:	15 Esther sent back to Mordecai the response:
16 Vai reunir todos os judeus de Susa e jejuai por mim sem comer nem beber durante três dias e três noites. Eu farei a mesma coisa com as minhas criadas. Depois disso, apesar da lei, irei ter com o rei. Se houver de morrer, morrerei.	16 "Go and assemble all the Jews who are in Susa; fast on my behalf, all of you, not eating or drinking, night or day, for three days. I and my maids will also fast in the same way. Thus prepared, I will go to the king, contrary to the law. If I perish, I perish!"
17 Mardoqueu se retirou e fez o que Ester pediu.