Chapter 9

Public Confession of Sin. ^1 [a](A)On the twenty-fourth day of this month, the Israelites gathered together while fasting and wearing sackcloth, their heads covered with dust.

IV. Esther and Mordecai Plead for Help

Chapter 4

Mordecai Exhorts Esther. ¹ When Mordecai learned all that was happening, he tore his garments, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went through the city crying out loudly and bitterly,^{(A) 2} till he came before the royal gate, which no one clothed in sackcloth might enter. ³ Likewise in each of the provinces, wherever the king’s decree and law reached, the Jews went into deep mourning, with fasting, weeping, and lament; most of them lay on sackcloth and ashes.

⁴ Esther’s maids and eunuchs came and told her. Overwhelmed with anguish, the queen sent garments for Mordecai to put on, so that he might take off his sackcloth; but he refused.

Cry Out to the Lord

⁵ the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small,^[a] put on sackcloth.^(A)

⁶ When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

⁸ Man and beast alike must be covered with sackcloth and call loudly to God; they all must turn from their evil way and from the violence of their hands.