Esther 4:2

Mordecai Appeals to Esther · Esther 4:1–17

Modern

But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because the law prohibited anyone wearing sackcloth from entering that gate.

Traditional

And came even before the king’s gate: for none might enter into the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth.

Literal

And he came as far as before the face of the gate of the king, for no one was to come into the gate of the king in a garment of sackcloth.

Latin

…et hoc ejulatu usque ad fores palatii gradiens. Non enim erat licitum indutum sacco aulam regis intrare.

Hebrew

English

But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because the law prohibited anyone wearing sackcloth from entering that gate.

the law prohibited anyone...from entering that gate: The king did not want to hear sad stories or people asking for mercy.