From his royal throne in Persia's capital city of Susa, King Xerxes ruled 127 provinces, all the way from India to Ethiopia.

So on the thirteenth day of the first month Haman called the king's secretaries and dictated a proclamation to be translated into every language and system of writing used in the empire and to be sent to all the rulers, governors, and officials. It was issued in the name of King Xerxes and stamped with his ring.

Eli, who was very worried about the Covenant Box, was sitting in his seat beside the road, staring. The man spread the news throughout the town, and everyone cried out in fear.

Eli heard the noise and asked, "What is all this noise about?" The man hurried to Eli to tell him the news.

The messengers arrived at Gibeah, where Saul lived, and when they told the news, the people started crying in despair.

Now leave me alone to weep bitterly over all those of my people who have died. Don't try to comfort me.

The Sovereign LORD Almighty was calling you then to weep and mourn, to shave your heads and wear sackcloth.

As soon as King Hezekiah heard their report, he tore his clothes in grief, put on sackcloth, and went to the Temple of the LORD.

This is the message which he told them to give to Isaiah: "Today is a day of suffering; we are being punished and are in disgrace. We are like a woman who is ready to give birth, but is too weak to do it.

and they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where they will cry and gnash their teeth.

Then the king told the servants, 'Tie him up hand and foot, and throw him outside in the dark. There he will cry and gnash his teeth.' "

As for this useless servant---throw him outside in the darkness; there he will cry and gnash his teeth.'

When you fast, you make yourselves suffer; you bow your heads low like a blade of grass and spread out sackcloth and ashes to lie on. Is that what you call fasting? Do you think I will be pleased with that?

And I prayed earnestly to the Lord God, pleading with him, fasting, wearing sackcloth, and sitting in ashes.