Esther 4:2-4

Living Bible

² Then he stood outside the gate of the palace, for no one was permitted to enter in mourning clothes. ³ And throughout all the provinces there was great mourning among the Jews, fasting, weeping, and despair at the king’s decree; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

⁴ When Esther’s maids and eunuchs came and told her about Mordecai, she was deeply distressed and sent clothing to him to replace the sackcloth, but he refused it.