And in that day did the Lord GOD of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth:

And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:

And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard {it}, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD.

Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? {is it} to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes {under him}? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? {a day...: or, to afflict his soul for a day?}

Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which {is} not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish. {present: Heb. found}

Therefore said I, Look away from me; I will weep bitterly, labour not to comfort me, because of the spoiling of the daughter of my people. {weep...: Heb. be bitter in weeping}

Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that {were} over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and {to} every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring. {scribes: or, secretaries}

For many are called, but few {are} chosen.

And when he came, lo, Eli sat upon a seat by the wayside watching: for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city, and told {it}, all the city cried out.

And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voices, and wept.

Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this {is} Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, {over} an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)

So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which {was} before the king's gate.

To confirm these days of Purim in their times {appointed}, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for their seed, the matters of the fastings and their cry. {themselves: Heb. their souls}

Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? {is it} to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes {under him}? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? {a day...: or, to afflict his soul for a day?}

Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them.

When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;