wear sackcloth and ashes

Etymology
From the Bible Book of Esther 4:1 "When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly".

Verb

 * 1)  To publicly express regret for something done wrong.

Translations

 * Danish: klæde sig i sæk og aske
 * Finnish: pukeutua säkkiin ja tuhkaan
 * Irish: caith sacéadach agus luaithreach
 * Italian: cospargersi il capo di cenere
 * Polish:
 * Russian: