All the Jews were very sad. They didn’t eat anything. They wept and cried. Many of them put on the rough clothing people wear when they’re sad. They were lying down in ashes. They did all these things in every territory where the king’s order and law had been sent.

王的谕旨所到的各省各处，犹大人大大悲哀，禁食哭泣哀号，穿麻衣躺在灰中的甚多。

王的谕旨和敕令所到的各省各处，犹太人都极其悲哀，禁食哭泣哀号，许多人躺在麻布和炉灰中。

王的谕旨和敕令所到的各省各处，犹太人都极其悲哀，禁食哭泣哀号，许多人躺在麻布和炉灰中。

王的命令和谕旨传到各省，各地的犹太人极其悲伤，他们禁食、哭泣、哀号，许多人身披麻衣躺在灰中。

王的谕旨和命令传到的各省各地，犹大人都大大悲哀，禁食、哭泣、悲伤；许多人披上麻衣，躺在灰尘中。

那时在各个省，在王令和他的法令所传到的地方，犹太人都大大哀恸；他们禁食、哭泣、哀号，许多人躺在麻布和灰烬上。

王的諭旨所到的各省各處，猶大人大大悲哀，禁食哭泣哀號，穿麻衣躺在灰中的甚多。

王的諭旨和敕令所到的各省各處，猶太人都極其悲哀，禁食哭泣哀號，許多人躺在麻布和爐灰中。

王的諭旨和敕令所到的各省各處，猶太人都極其悲哀，禁食哭泣哀號，許多人躺在麻布和爐灰中。

王的命令和諭旨傳到各省，各地的猶太人極其悲傷，他們禁食、哭泣、哀號，許多人身披麻衣躺在灰中。

王的諭旨和命令傳到的各省各地，猶大人都大大悲哀，禁食、哭泣、悲傷；許多人披上麻衣，躺在灰塵中。

王的諭旨和勅令所到的各省各處，猶大人中都大大哀悼，並且禁食、哭泣、舉哀；多數人也拿麻布和爐灰去當床鋪。

那時在各個省，在王令和他的法令所傳到的地方，猶太人都大大哀慟；他們禁食、哭泣、哀號，許多人躺在麻布和灰燼上。

詔至各州、猶大人悲甚、禁食、哭泣、哀號、衣麻臥於灰中者眾、

詔至各州、猶大人禁食哀哭、衣麻蒙灰甚眾。

王之詔命所至之各州各地、猶大人俱大哀痛、禁食、哭泣、悲號、衣麻蒙塵者甚眾、

In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

And in every province, wherever the king’s command and his decree reached, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and many of them lay in sackcloth and ashes.

And as news of the king’s decree reached all the provinces, there was great mourning among the Jews. They fasted, wept, and wailed, and many people lay in burlap and ashes.

There was great mourning among the Jewish people in every province where the king’s command and edict reached. They fasted, wept, and lamented, and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

In each and every province where the command and decree of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and mourning rites; and many had sackcloth and ashes spread out as a bed.

And in every province where the king’s command and decree arrived, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

And in every province, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

There was great mourning among the Jewish people in every province where the king’s command and edict came. They fasted, wept, and lamented, and many lay on sackcloth and ashes.

And in every province, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came,[ there was] great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

Throughout each and every province where the king’s edict and law were announced there was considerable mourning among the Jews, along with fasting, weeping, and sorrow. Sackcloth and ashes were characteristic of many.

In every province, wherever the king’s commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

So I prayed to the Lord God. I begged him. I made many appeals to him. I didn’t eat anything. I put on the rough clothing people wear when they’re sad. And I sat down in ashes.

So I said,“ Leave me alone. Let me weep bitter tears. Don’t try to comfort me. My people have been destroyed.”

Do you think that is the way I want you to fast? Is it only a time for people to make themselves suffer? Is it only for people to bow their heads like tall grass bent by the wind? Is it only for people to lie down in ashes and clothes of mourning? Is that what you call a fast? Do you think I can accept that?

The Lord who rules over all called out to you at that time. The Lord told you to weep and cry. He told you to tear your hair out. And he told you to put on the rough clothing people wear when they’re sad.

King Xerxes ruled over the 127 territories in his kingdom. They reached from India all the way to Cush. Here is what happened during the time Xerxes ruled over the whole Persian kingdom.

“ Then the king told his slaves,‘ Tie up his hands and feet. Throw him outside into the darkness. Out there people will weep and grind their teeth.’

“ Go. Gather together all the Jews who are in Susa. And fast for my benefit. Don’t eat or drink anything for three days. Don’t do it night or day. I and my attendants will fast just as you do. Then I’ll go to the king. I’ll do it even though it’s against the law. And if I have to die, I’ll die.”

The messengers came to Gibeah of Saul. They reported to the people the terms Nahash had required. Then all the people wept out loud.

When he arrived, there was Eli sitting on his chair. He was by the side of the road. He was watching because his heart was really concerned about the ark of God. The man entered the town and told everyone what had happened. Then the whole town cried out.Eli heard the people crying out. He asked,“ What’s the meaning of all this noise?” The man hurried over to Eli.

When King Hezekiah heard what the field commander had said, he tore his clothes. He put on the rough clothing people wear when they’re sad. Then he went into the Lord’ s temple.Hezekiah sent Eliakim, who was in charge of the palace, to Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz. He also sent the leading priests and Shebna the secretary to him. All of them were wearing rough clothing.They told Isaiah,“ Hezekiah says,‘ Today we’re in great trouble. The Lord is warning us. He’s bringing shame on us. Sometimes babies come to the moment when they should be born. But their mothers aren’t strong enough to give birth to them. Today we are like those mothers. We aren’t strong enough to save ourselves.

They will throw them into the blazing furnace. There people will weep and grind their teeth.

The king sent for the royal secretaries. It was the 13th day of the first month. The secretaries wrote down all Haman’s orders. They wrote them down in the writing of each territory in the kingdom. They also wrote them in the language of each nation. The orders were sent to the royal officials and to the governors of the territories. And the orders were also sent to the nobles of the nations. The orders were written in the name of King Xerxes himself. And they were stamped with his own official mark.

Throw that worthless slave outside. There in the darkness, people will weep and grind their teeth.’