1883 Haydock Douay Rheims Bible

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Esther 4:2 And he came, lamenting in this manner, even to the gate of the palace: for no one clothed with sackcloth might enter the king's court.

Sackcloth. Greek adds, "and ashes." Such an appearance was deemed disrespectful. God forbids his priests to act thus, Leviticus xxi.. 1. See Genesis 41:14. Yet the miserable ought not to be entirely excluded from the king's presence, as he ought to be their protector.