Esther 4:1-3

Expanded Bible

Mordecai Asks Esther to Help

4 When Mordecai ·heard [learned] about all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on ·rough cloth [burlap; sackcloth] and ashes [^Csigns of grief or repentance], and went out into the city ·crying [wailing] loudly and ·painfully [bitterly]. ² But Mordecai went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one was allowed to enter that gate dressed in ·rough cloth [burlap; sackcloth]. ³ As the king’s ·order [edict; decree] reached every area, there was great ·sadness and loud crying [mourning] among the Jews. They fasted and ·cried out loud [wept and wailed], and many of them lay down on ·rough cloth [burlap; sackcloth] and ashes [^Csigns of grief or repentance].