Bible in Basic English
"And he came even before the king's doorway; for no one might come inside the king's door clothed in haircloth."
— Esther 4:2, Bible in Basic English
“and he came even before the king’s gate: for none might enter within the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth. ”
“He came even before the king's gate, for no one is allowed inside the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.”
“But he went no further than the king’s gate, for no one was permitted to enter the king’s gate clothed in sackcloth.”
Now when Mordecai saw what was done, pulling off his robe, he put on haircloth, with dust on his head, and went out into the middle of the town, crying out with a loud and bitter cry.
And he came even before the king's doorway; for no one might come inside the king's door clothed in haircloth.
And in every part of the kingdom, wherever the king's word and his order came, there was great sorrow among the Jews, and weeping and crying and going without food; and numbers of them were stretched on the earth covered with dust and haircloth.
And Esther's women and her servants came and gave her word of it. Then great was the grief of the queen: and she sent robes for Mordecai, so that his clothing of haircloth might be taken off; but he would not have them.
Then Esther sent for Hathach, one of the king's unsexed servants whom he had given her for waiting on her, and she gave him orders to go to Mordecai and see what this was and why it was.