Esther 4:2-4

EasyEnglish Bible

² Nobody who was wearing sackcloth could go into the yard of the palace. So Mordecai stopped at the king's gate. ³ Jews who lived in all the regions of Xerxes' kingdom heard the king's command. So they were very sad. They were weeping and they were fasting.^[a] Many of them lay on sackcloth and ashes.

⁴ Esther's female servants the eunuchs who took care of her told her what Mordecai was doing. So Esther was very upset. She sent clothes for Mordecai to put on instead of the sackcloth, but Mordecai refused to wear them.