ଏଷ୍ଟର ବିବରଣ 4
1 ମର୍ଦ୍ଦଖଯ ଏସବୁ ବିଷଯ ଜାଣିବାପରେ ନିଜର ବସ୍ତ୍ରକୁ ଚିରି ପକାଇଲା ଓ ଚଟ ବସ୍ତ୍ର ପିନ୍ଧି ମୁଣ୍ତ ରେ ଭସ୍ମ ଲପନେ କଲା। ସେ ନଗର ମଧ୍ଯକୁ ଗଲା ଓ ଉଚ୍ଚ ସ୍ବର ରେ ରୋଦନ କଲା।
2 ସେ ରାଜଦ୍ବାର ସମ୍ମୁଖ ପର୍ୟ୍ଯନ୍ତ ଆସିଲା। ମାତ୍ର ଶାେକ ବସ୍ତ୍ର ପିନ୍ଧି କହେି ରାଜଦ୍ବାର ରେ ପ୍ରବେଶ କରିପାରିଲା ନାହିଁ।
3 ପ୍ରେତ୍ୟକକ ପ୍ରଦେଶର ଯେଉଁ ଯେଉଁ ସ୍ଥାନକୁ ଏହି ରାଜା ଆଜ୍ଞା ଓ ନିଯମ ପତ୍ର ଗଲା, ସହେିସବୁ ସ୍ଥାନର ୟିହୁଦୀଯମାନଙ୍କ ମଧିଅରେ ମହାଶୋକ ଓ ଉପବାସ ଓ କ୍ରନ୍ଦନ ଓ ବିଳାପ ହେଲା। ପୁଣି ଅନକେେ ଅଖା ଓ ଭସ୍ମ ରେ ଶଯନ କଲେ।
4 ଏଷ୍ଟରର ଦାସୀଗଣ ଓ ନଫୁସକମାନେ ଆସି ମର୍ଦ୍ଦଖଯ ବିଷଯ ରେ ତାଙ୍କୁ ଜଣାଇଲେ। ତେଣୁ ରାଣୀ ଅତିଶଯ ବିଚଳିତ ହାଇଗେଲେ। ପୁଣି ମର୍ଦ୍ଦଖଯଠାରୁ ଅଖାକାଢି ତାହାକୁ ପିନ୍ଧାଇବା ପାଇଁ ବସ୍ତ୍ର ପଠାଇଲା। ମାତ୍ର ସେ ତାହା ଗ୍ରହଣ କଲା ନାହିଁ।
5 ଏଥିପାଇଁ ରାଜାଙ୍କ ଦ୍ବାରା ଏଷ୍ଟରର ସବୋ ରେ ନିୟୁକ୍ତ ହଥକ୍ ନାମେ ରାଜ ନଫୁସକକୁ ଏଷ୍ଟର ଡାକି କ'ଣ ହେଲା ଓ କିପରି ହେଲା ତାହା ଜାଣିବା ପାଇଁ ମର୍ଦ୍ଦଖଯ ନିକଟକୁ ୟିବା ପାଇଁ ତାକୁ ଆଜ୍ଞା ଦଲୋ।
6 ତାପରେ ହଥକ୍ ରାଜଦ୍ବାର ସମ୍ମୁଖସ୍ଥ ନଗରର ଛକ ସ୍ଥାନ ରେ ମର୍ଦ୍ଦଖଯ ନିକଟକୁ ଗଲା।
7 ଏବଂ ମର୍ଦ୍ଦଖଯ ନିଜ ପ୍ରତି ଯାହା ଯାହା ଘଟିଥିଲା ଓ ୟିହୁଦୀଯମାନଙ୍କୁ ବିନାଶ କରିବା ନିମନ୍ତେ ହାମନ୍ ରାଜଭଣ୍ତାର ରେ ଠିକ୍ ଯେତେ ମୁଦ୍ରା ଦବୋକୁ ପ୍ରତିଜ୍ଞା କରିଥିଲା, ସେସବୁ ତାକୁ କହିଲା।
8 ଆହୁରି ମଧ୍ଯ ସମାନଙ୍କେ ବିନାଶାର୍ଥେ ଯେଉଁ ଆଜ୍ଞାପତ୍ର ଶୂଶନ ରେ ଦଇେଥିଲା, ତହିଁର ଏକ କପି ଏଷ୍ଟରକୁ ଦଖାଇେ ଜ୍ଞାତ କରାଇବାକୁ ଦଲୋ। ଆଉ ଏଷ୍ଟର ଯେପରି ଆପଣା ଲୋକମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ରାଜାଙ୍କ ଛାମୁ ରେ ପ୍ରବେଶ କରି ତାହାଙ୍କ ନିକଟରେ ନିବଦନେ ଓ ଅନୁ ରୋଧ କରିବ ଏପରି ଆଦେଶ କରିବାକୁ କହିଲା।
9 ତେଣୁ ହଥକ୍ ଆସି ମର୍ଦ୍ଦଖଯର କଥା ଏଷ୍ଟରକୁ ଜଣାଇଲା।
10 ଏହାପରେ ଏଷ୍ଟର ହଥକକୁ ଏହିକଥା କହି ମର୍ଦ୍ଦଖଯ ନିକଟକୁ ୟିବାପାଇଁ ଆଜ୍ଞା କଲା।
11 ବିନା ରାଜା ଡାକରା ରେ ପୁରୁଷ ଓ ସ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଯେ କହେି ଭିତର ପ୍ରାଙ୍ଗଣକୁ ରାଜାଙ୍କ ନିକଟକୁ ୟାଏ ତାହାର ପ୍ରାଣଦଣ୍ତ ଦବୋର ଏକମାତ୍ର ବ୍ଯବସ୍ଥା ଅଛି। କବଳେ ଯାହା ପ୍ରତି ରାଜା ସ୍ବର୍ଣ୍ଣମଯ ରାଜଦଣ୍ତ ବଢାନ୍ତି, ସହେି ବଞ୍ଚେ। ଏହା ରାଜାଙ୍କର ସବୁଦାସ ଓ ରାଜାଙ୍କର ସବୁ ପ୍ରଦେଶସ୍ଥ ଲୋକ ଜାଣନ୍ତି। ମାତ୍ର ଗତ ତିରିଶ ଦିନ ହେଲା ମୁଁ ରାଜାଙ୍କ ନିକଟକୁ ୟିବାପାଇଁ ଡାକରା ପାଇନାହିଁ।
12 ସମାନେେ ଏଷ୍ଟରର ଏହିକଥା ମର୍ଦ୍ଦଖଯକୁ କହିଲେ। ତେଣୁ ମର୍ଦ୍ଦଖଯ ଏଷ୍ଟରକୁ, ଏହି ପ୍ରତ୍ଯୁତ୍ତର ଦବୋକୁ ସମାନଙ୍କେୁ କହିଲା,
13 ସବୁ ୟିହୁଦୀଯମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ଯରୁ କବଳେ ତୁମ୍ଭେ ରାଜ ଗୃହ ରେ ଥିବାରୁ ସେ ରକ୍ଷା ପାଇବ, ଏହା ଭାବ ନାହିଁ।
14 ଯଦି ତୁମ୍ଭେ ଏହି ସମୟରେ ନୀରବ ହାଇେ ରୁହ, ତବେେ ଅନ୍ୟ ଏକ ସ୍ଥାନରୁ ୟିହୁଦୀଯମାନଙ୍କ ନିମନ୍ତେ ଉପଶମ ଓ ପରିତ୍ରାଣ ଆସିବ। କିନ୍ତୁ ତୁମ୍ଭେ ଏବଂ ତୁମ୍ଭର ପରିବାର ବିନାଶ ହବେ, କିଏ ଜାଣେ ତୁମ୍ଭେ ଏପରି ସମୟର ତୁମ୍ଭର ରାଜକୀଯ ସ୍ଥାନ ପାଇପାର?
15 ଏହାପରେ ଏଷ୍ଟର ମର୍ଦ୍ଦଖଯ ନିକଟକୁ ଉତ୍ତର ପଠାଇଲା, ତୁମ୍ଭେ ୟାଇ ଶ୍ବଶନ ରେ ଉପସ୍ଥିତ ସମସ୍ତ ୟିହୁଦୀମାନଙ୍କୁ ଏକତ୍ର କରି ମାେ ଲାଗି ଉପବାସ କର। ପୁଣି ତିନି ଦିନ ୟାଏ, ଦିନ ରେ କି ରାତ୍ରି ରେ କିଛି ଖାଅ ନାହିଁ ଓ କିଛି ପାନ କର ନାହିଁ।
16 ମୁଁ ଓ ମାରେ ଦାସୀଗଣ ସହେିପରି ଉପବାସ କରିବୁ, ତହୁଁ ବ୍ଯବସ୍ଥାନୁୟାଯୀ ନୋହିଲେ ହେଁ ମୁଁ ରାଜାଙ୍କ ନିକଟକୁ ୟିବି, ସେଥି ରେ ମଲେ ପେଛ ମରିବି।
17 ତେଣୁ ମର୍ଦ୍ଦଖଯ ଗଲେ, ସେ ଏଷ୍ଟରଙ୍କ କହିବା ଅନୁୟାଯୀ କାର୍ୟ୍ଯ କଲେ।
1 When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;
2 And came even before the king’s gate: for none might enter into the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth.
3 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.
4 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.
5 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.
6 So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king’s gate.
7 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.
8 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.
9 And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.
10 Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai;
11 All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, 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.
12 And they told to Mordecai Esther’s words.
13 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews.
14 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?
15 Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,
16 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.
17 So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.
1 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
2 Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the Lord;
3 Thus saith the Lord God; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!
4 O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts.
5 Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord.
6 They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The Lord saith: and the Lord hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word.
7 Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The Lord saith it; albeit I have not spoken?
8 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord God.
9 And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord God.
10 Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered morter:
11 Say unto them which daub it with untempered morter, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it.
12 Lo, when the wall is fallen, shall it not be said unto you, Where is the daubing wherewith ye have daubed it?
13 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my fury; and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in my fury to consume it.
14 So will I break down the wall that ye have daubed with untempered morter, and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof shall be discovered, and it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed in the midst thereof: and ye shall know that I am the Lord.
15 Thus will I accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon them that have daubed it with untempered morter, and will say unto you, The wall is no more, neither they that daubed it;
16 To wit, the prophets of Israel which prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and which see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace, saith the Lord God.
17 Likewise, thou son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people, which prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy thou against them,
18 And say, Thus saith the Lord God; Woe to the women that sew pillows to all armholes, and make kerchiefs upon the head of every stature to hunt souls! Will ye hunt the souls of my people, and will ye save the souls alive that come unto you?
19 And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear your lies?
20 Wherefore thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against your pillows, wherewith ye there hunt the souls to make them fly, and I will tear them from your arms, and will let the souls go, even the souls that ye hunt to make them fly.
21 Your kerchiefs also will I tear, and deliver my people out of your hand, and they shall be no more in your hand to be hunted; and ye shall know that I am the Lord.
22 Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life:
23 Therefore ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand: and ye shall know that I am the Lord.