Esther Agrees to Help the Jews

1 When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai tore his clothes ^oand put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and he cried out with a loud and bitter cry. 2 He went up to the entrance of the king’s gate, for no one was allowed to enter the king’s gate clothed in sackcloth.

3 Then Esther spoke again to the king. She fell at his feet and wept and pleaded with him to avert the evil plan of Haman ^rthe Agagite and the plot that he had devised against the Jews.