14:1Queen Esther too fled for refuge to the Lord, dreading the danger which was threatening. 14:2And when she had laid aside her royal garments, she took on clothing fitted for weeping and mourning, and instead of various ointments, she filled her head with ash and dung, and humbled her body with fasts: and all the places in which she had formerly been accustomed to rejoice, she filled with the tearing of her hair. 14:3And she was praying to the Lord God of Israel, saying: "My Lord, who alone are our king, help me, a woman alone, and one who has no other helper besides you. 14:4My danger is in my hands.
14:5I have heard from my father that you, Lord, took Israel from all the nations, and our fathers from all their forefathers before them, so that you might possess an everlasting inheritance, and you did for them as you had spoken. 14:6We have sinned in your sight, and for that reason you have handed us over into the hands of our enemies: for we worshipped their gods. 14:7You are just, Lord: and now it is not enough for them that they oppress us with the harshest slavery, but, ascribing the strength of their hands to the power of idols, they wish to change your promises, and blot out your inheritance, and close the mouths of those who praise you, and extinguish the glory of your temple and altar, so that they may open the mouths of the nations, and praise the strength of idols, and proclaim a king of flesh for ever.
14:11Do not hand over, Lord, your sceptre to those who are not, lest they laugh at our ruin: but turn their counsel upon themselves, and destroy him who has begun to rage against us. 14:12Remember, Lord, and show yourself to us in the time of our tribulation, and give me confidence, Lord, king of gods and of all power: grant well-ordered speech in my mouth in the sight of the lion, and turn his heart to hatred of our enemy, so that both he himself may perish, and the rest who agree with him. 14:14But free us with your hand, and help me, having no other help except you, Lord, who have knowledge of all things, and know that I hate the glory of the wicked, and detest the bed of the uncircumcised, and of every foreigner.
14:16You know my necessity, that I abhor the sign of my pride and glory, which is upon my head in the days of my display, and detest it like the rag of a menstruous woman, and do not wear it in the days of my silence, and that I have not eaten at Haman's table, nor has the king's banquet pleased me, and I have not drunk the wine of libations: and that your handmaid has never rejoiced, since I was carried here until the present day, except in you, Lord God of Abraham. 14:19O God, mighty above all, hear the voice of those who have no other hope, and free us from the hand of the wicked, and deliver me from my fear."