⁴ When Esther’s eunuchs and female attendants came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them.

²⁷ So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian^[a](A) eunuch,^(B) an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship,^(C)

¹⁵ This is what the Lord says:

¹² But when the attendants delivered the king’s command, Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the king became furious and burned with anger.^(A)

³² He looked up at the window and called out, “Who is on my side? Who?” Two or three eunuchs looked down at him.

¹⁵ He will take a tenth^(A) of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants.

³⁵ All his sons and daughters came to comfort him,^(A) but he refused to be comforted.^(B) “No,” he said, “I will continue to mourn until I join my son^(C) in the grave.^(D)” So his father wept for him.