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VERSES ABOUT FASTING
Fasting helps me grow closer to God and strengthens my relationship with my Heavenly Father. I try not to see it as something I do for my own benefit, but as a way to improve my walk with God. It's a voluntary choice, a time when I set aside the physical need for food to nourish my spirit. It's a special time to seek God's presence, which is why I find it helpful to fast in a quiet place where I can talk with Him alone.
The Bible talks about this too. Daniel 9:31 says, "So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes." It's really inspiring to see how people in the Bible sought God through fasting.
And, when ye may he fasting, become not ye, as the hypocrites, of sullen countenance,—for they darken their looks, that they may appear, unto men, to be fasting: Verily, I say unto you, they are getting back their reward.But, when, thou, art fasting, anoint thy head, and, thy face, wash,—that thou do not appear, unto men, to be fasting, but to thy Father who is in secret,—and, thy Father who seeth in secret, will reward thee.
Is not, this, the fast that I must ever choose—To unbind the tight cords of lawlessness, To unloose the bands of the yoke,—and To let the crushed go free, and That every yoke, ye tear off?Is it not to break unto the hungry, thy bread, And the thrust-out oppressed, that thou bring into a home,—When thou seest one naked, that thou cover him, And from thine own flesh, shalt not hide thyself?
Even now, therefore, urgeth Yahweh, Turn ye unto me, with all your heart,—and with fasting and with weeping, and with lamentation;And rend your heart, and not your garments, turn therefore, unto Yahweh your God,—for, gracious and full of compassion, is he, slow to anger, and abundant in loving- kindness, and will grieve over calamity.
So I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek him by prayer, and supplication,—with fasting, and sackcloth and ashes;
And, as they were publicly ministering unto the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said—Separate forthwith unto me, Barnabas and Saul, unto the work whereunto I have called them.Then, fasting and praying, and laying their hands upon them, they sent them away.
And the people of Nineveh believed in God,—and proclaimed a fast, and clothed themselves in sackcloth, from the greatest of them, even unto the least of them.And the word reached unto the king of Nineveh, so he arose from his throne, and laid aside his robe from off him,—and covered him with sackcloth, and sat on ashes.And he caused an outcry to be made—and said—throughout Nineveh, By decree of the king and of his great men, Be it known:—Man and beast, herd and flock, Let them taste, nothing, let them not feed, and, water, let them not drink:Let both man and beast, cover themselves with sackcloth, and let them cry unto God, mightily,—Yea let them turn, every man from his wicked way, and from the violence which is in their hands:Who knoweth whether God himself—may turn and grieve,—and turn away from the glow of his anger, that we perish not?And God saw their doings, that they turned from their wicked way,—and God was grieved over the calamity which he had spoken of executing upon them, and executed it not.
Then proclaimed I there a fast, by the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God,—to seek of him a smooth way, for us and for our little ones, and for all our substance.For I was ashamed to ask of the king, a band of soldiers and horsemen, to help us against the enemy in the way, because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God, is upon all who seek him, for good, But, his power and his anger, are against all who forsake him.So we fasted and sought of our God, concerning this,—and he suffered himself to be entreated by us.
And Jehoshaphat was afraid, and set his face to seek unto Yahweh,—and proclaimed a fast for all Judah.And Judah gathered themselves together, to enquire of Yahweh,—even, out of all the cities of Judah, came they in, to seek Yahweh.
And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and I mourned certain days,—and continued fasting and praying, before the God of the heavens;
And, Jesus, full of Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led in the Spirit in the desert,forty days,—being tempted by the adversary; and he did eat nothing in those days,—and, when they were concluded, he hungered.
So then he was there, with Yahweh, forty days and forty nights, bread, did he not eat and, water, did he not drink, and he wrote upon the tables, the words of the covenant, the ten words.
Moreover, appointing unto them by vote, in each assembly, elders, praying with fastings, they commended them unto the Lord on whom they had believed.
But, as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth, I humbled, with fasting, my soul, though, my prayer, unto mine own bosom, might return:Like as for a friend, like as for a brother of mine own, I walked to and fro, As though mourning for a mother, I gloomily bowed myself down.
And it came to pass, when Ahab heard these words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted,—and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.Then came the word of Yahweh unto Elijah the Tishbite, saying:Hast thou seen that Allah hath humbled himself, before me? Because he hath humbled himself before me, I will not bring in the calamity in his days, In the days of his son, will I bring in the calamity upon his house.
Then come near unto him the disciples of John, saying,—Wherefore do, we, and the Pharisees, fast, whereas, thy disciples, fast not?And Jesus said unto them,—Can, the sons of the bridechamber, mourn, so long as, the bridegroom, is, with them? But days will come, when the bridegroom, shall be taken from them, and, then, will they fast.
In those days, I, Daniel, was mourning three sevens of days:food to delight in, did I not eat, neither flesh nor wine, came into my mouth, nor did I so much as, anoint, myself,—until were fulfilled three sevens of days.
Wherefore have we Fasted and thou hast not seen? Humbled our soul, and thou wouldst take no note? Lo! in the day of your fast, ye take pleasure, But all your toilers, ye drive on!Lo! for strife and contention, ye fast, And to smite with the fist of lawlessness,—Ye shall not fast as to-day, To cause to be heard on high your voice!Like this, shall the fast be that I choose, A day for the son of earth to humble his soul? Is it to bow down as a rush his head, And sackcloth and ashes, to spread out? Is it, this, thou wilt call a fast, Or a day of acceptance with Yahweh?
Now, on the twenty-fourth day of this month, were the sons of Israel gathered together, with fasting and with sackcloth, having earth upon them.And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all the sons of the foreigner,—and stood and made confession over their own sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.
Speak thou unto all the people of the land, and unto the priests, saying,—When ye fasted and lamented in the fifth and in the seventh, even these seventy years, did ye, really fast, unto, me?
So they gathered themselves unto Mizpah, and drew water, and poured it out before Yahweh, and fasted on that day, and said, there, We have sinned against Yahweh. And Samuel judged the sons of Israel in Mizpah.
Be not depriving one another—unless perhaps by consent for a season, that ye may have leisure for prayer, and, again, may be together,—lest Satan be tempting you by reason of your want of self-control.
David therefore earnestly sought God in behalf of the boy,—and David kept a fast, and used to go in and pass the night, and lie upon the ground.
Go! gather ye together all the Jews who are to be found in Shusan, and fast ye for me—and neither eat nor drink—three days, night nor day, and, I and my maidens, will fast so,—and, in this manner, will I go in unto the king, though it is not according to the law, and, when I have perished, I have perished!
Hallow ye a fast, Call a solemn assembly, Gather, O elders, all the inhabitants of the land, unto the house of Yahweh your God,—and make ye outcry unto Yahweh.
Then went up all the sons of Israel, and all the people, and came to Bethel, and wept, and tarried there before Yahweh, and fasted on that day, until the evening,—and caused to go up ascending-sacrifices and peace-offerings, before Yahweh.
So he arose, and did eat and drink,—and journeyed, in the strength of that eating, forty days and forty nights, as far as the mountain of God—Horeb.
And Cornelius said—Four days ago, counting unto this very hour, I was keeping, the ninth hour, as one of prayer, in my house. And lo! a man stood before me, in bright clothing,And saith—Cornelius! thy prayer hath been heard, and, thine alms, have been remembered before God.
Then the king departed to his palace, and spent the night fasting, and no, table, was brought in before him,—and, his sleep, fled from him.
And the people of Nineveh believed in God,—and proclaimed a fast, and clothed themselves in sackcloth, from the greatest of them, even unto the least of them.
that thou do not appear, unto men, to be fasting, but to thy Father who is in secret,—and, thy Father who seeth in secret, will reward thee.
Though they fast, I am not going to hearken unto their loud cry, and Though they offer ascending-sacrifice and meal-offering, I am not going to accept them,—For with sword and with famine and with pestilence, am, I, about to consume them.
Thus, saith Yahweh of hosts—The fast of the fourth, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the eleventh, shall become to the house of Judah a gladness and a rejoicing, and pleasant appointed meetings,—But, truth and peace, see that ye love.
But, as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth, I humbled, with fasting, my soul, though, my prayer, unto mine own bosom, might return:
Blow ye a horn, in Zion,—hallow a fast, call a solemn assembly:Gather the people, hallow a convocation, collect the elders, gather the children, and the sucklings of the breasts,—let the bridegroom, come forth, from his chamber, and the bride from her bower:
But am beating my body under, and leading it captive, lest, by any means,—unto others, having proclaimed, the contest , I myself, should be rejected.
And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and I mourned certain days,—and continued fasting and praying, before the God of the heavens;and said, I beseech thee, O Yahweh God of the heavens, the great and fearful GOD,—keeping the covenant and lovingkindness for them who love him and keep his commandments:Let, I pray thee, thine ears be attentive and thine eyes open—to hearken unto the prayer of thy servant—-which, I, am praying before thee now, day and night, for the sons of Israel, thy servants,—-and making confession concerning the sins of the sons of Israel, which we have committed against thee, both I and the house of my father, have sinned.
And, thus, used she to do, year by year, whenever she went up to the house of Yahweh, thus, used she to vex her,—and she wept, and would not eat.So Elkanah her husband said to her—Hannah! wherefore shouldst thou weep? and wherefore wilt thou not eat? and wherefore should thy heart be sad? Am, I, not better to thee, than ten sons?
And, as they were publicly ministering unto the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said—Separate forthwith unto me, Barnabas and Saul, unto the work whereunto I have called them.
and, she, had been a widow for as long as eighty-four years,—who left not the temple, with fastings and supplications, rendering divine service night and day;—
So we fasted and sought of our God, concerning this,—and he suffered himself to be entreated by us.
Now she wrote in the letters, saying,—Proclaim ye a fast, and cause Naboth to sit at the head of the people;
And, while yet I was speaking, and praying, and confessing mine own sin, and the sin of my people Israel,—and causing my supplication to fall down before Yahweh my God, concerning the holy mountain of my God;while yet I was speaking in prayer, then, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in vision at the beginning, wearied with rapid flight, touched me, about the time of the evening present.Yea he came, and spake with me,—and said—O Daniel! now, have I come forth, to teach thee understanding.At the beginning of thy supplications, came forth a word, I, therefore, am arrived to tell, because, a man delighted in, thou art,—mark then the word, and have understanding in the revelation:—
And they lamented aloud, and wept, and fasted until the evening,—for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Yahweh, and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.
Then went up all the sons of Israel, and all the people, and came to Bethel, and wept, and tarried there before Yahweh, and fasted on that day, until the evening,—and caused to go up ascending-sacrifices and peace-offerings, before Yahweh.And the sons of Israel asked of Yahweh,—there, being the ark of the covenant of God, in those days;and Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, was standing before it in those days, saying: Shall I yet again go forth to battle, against the sons of Benjamin, my brother, or shall I forbear? And Yahweh said—Go up, for, to-morrow, will I deliver him into thy hand.
Hallow ye a fast, Call a solemn assembly, Gather, O elders, all the inhabitants of the land, unto the house of Yahweh your God,—and make ye outcry unto Yahweh.Alas for the day! For near is the day of Yahweh, and, as a veritable Destruction from the Destroyer, shall it come.
But there will come days, even when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, then, will they fast, in those days.
to establish these days of the Purim, in their set times, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined upon them, and according as they had enjoined upon their own soul, and upon their seed,—the story of the fastings and of their outcry.
Cry aloud, do not spare, Like a horn, lift high thy voice,—And declare To my people, heir transgression, and To the house of Jacob their sins.Yet, me—day by day, do they seek, And in the knowledge of my ways, they delight,—Like a nation that had done righteousness, And the justice of their God, had not forsaken They ask of me the just regulations, In approaching God, they delight.Wherefore have we Fasted and thou hast not seen? Humbled our soul, and thou wouldst take no note? Lo! in the day of your fast, ye take pleasure, But all your toilers, ye drive on!Lo! for strife and contention, ye fast, And to smite with the fist of lawlessness,—Ye shall not fast as to-day, To cause to be heard on high your voice!Like this, shall the fast be that I choose, A day for the son of earth to humble his soul? Is it to bow down as a rush his head, And sackcloth and ashes, to spread out? Is it, this, thou wilt call a fast, Or a day of acceptance with Yahweh?Is not, this, the fast that I must ever choose—To unbind the tight cords of lawlessness, To unloose the bands of the yoke,—and To let the crushed go free, and That every yoke, ye tear off?Is it not to break unto the hungry, thy bread, And the thrust-out oppressed, that thou bring into a home,—When thou seest one naked, that thou cover him, And from thine own flesh, shalt not hide thyself?Then, shall break forth, as the dawn, thy light, And thy new flesh shall speedily grow,—Then shall go before thee, thy righteousness, the glory of Yahweh shall bring up thy rear:Then, shalt thou Call, and Yahweh, will answer, Cry out, and he will say, Behold me! If thou remove, out of thy midst the yoke, The pointing of the finger, and The speaking of iniquity;
Then, Jesus was led up into the wilderness, by the Spirit, to be tempted by the adversary;and, fasting forty days and forty nights,—afterwards, he hungered.And, coming near, the tempter said to him,—If thou art God’s, Son, speak! that, these stones, may become, loaves.But, he, answering, said, It is written,—Not on bread alone, shall man live, but on every declaration coming forth through the mouth of God.
if my people upon whom my Name is called shall humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will, I myself, hear out of the heavens, and forgive their sin, and heal their land.
And, until day was about to dawn, Paul continued to beseech one and all to take some food, saying—This day is, the fourteenth day, that, suspense, fasting, ye are completing,—having helped yourselves, to nothing.Wherefore, I beseech you to take some food,—for, this, lays a foundation for your safety; for, of no one of you, shall a hair of the head perish.
Then the king departed to his palace, and spent the night fasting, and no, table, was brought in before him,—and, his sleep, fled from him.Then the king rose early, with the dawn,—and, hastily—unto the den of lions, departed;and, when he drew near to the den, unto Daniel, with distressed voice, made he outcry,—the king spake and said unto Daniel, O Daniel! servant of the Living God! Thy God, whom thou art serving continually, hath he been able to deliver thee from the lions?
And Jesus said unto them,—Can, the sons of the bridechamber, mourn, so long as, the bridegroom, is, with them? But days will come, when the bridegroom, shall be taken from them, and, then, will they fast.
Because, zeal for thy house, hath eaten me up, And, the reproaches of them who have reproached thee, have fallen upon me.When I have humbled my soul with fasting, Then hath it turned to my reproach;
And it came to pass in the fifth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah in the ninth month, that all the people of Jerusalem, and all the people who were coming in out of the cities of Judah into Jerusalem, had proclaimed a fast before Yahweh;
And the word reached unto the king of Nineveh, so he arose from his throne, and laid aside his robe from off him,—and covered him with sackcloth, and sat on ashes.And he caused an outcry to be made—and said—throughout Nineveh, By decree of the king and of his great men, Be it known:—Man and beast, herd and flock, Let them taste, nothing, let them not feed, and, water, let them not drink:Let both man and beast, cover themselves with sackcloth, and let them cry unto God, mightily,—Yea let them turn, every man from his wicked way, and from the violence which is in their hands:Who knoweth whether God himself—may turn and grieve,—and turn away from the glow of his anger, that we perish not?
Then arose Ezra from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Jehohanan son of Eliashib,—and, when he came thither, bread, did he not eat, and, water, did he not drink, for he was mourning over the unfaithfulness of them of the Exile.
and took their bones, and buried them under the tamarisk-tree in Jabesh,—and fasted seven days.
Now, on the twenty-fourth day of this month, were the sons of Israel gathered together, with fasting and with sackcloth, having earth upon them.And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all the sons of the foreigner,—and stood and made confession over their own sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.So they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of Yahweh their God, a fourth part of the day,—and, a fourth part, they were making confession and bowing themselves down, unto Yahweh their God.
in toil and hardship, in watchings, oft, in hunger and thirst, in fasting, oft, in cold and nakedness:—
When I went up into the mountain to receive the tables of stone—the tables of the covenant, which Yahweh had solemnised with you, then abode I in the mountain forty days and forty nights, food, did I not, eat, and water, did I not drink.
Then went up all the sons of Israel, and all the people, and came to Bethel, and wept, and tarried there before Yahweh, and fasted on that day, until the evening,—and caused to go up ascending-sacrifices and peace-offerings, before Yahweh.And the sons of Israel asked of Yahweh,—there, being the ark of the covenant of God, in those days;
Now, the men of Israel, were tired out on that day,—yet had Saul bound the people by an oath, saying—Cursed, be the man that eateth food until the evening, and I be avenged upon mine enemies. So none of the people had tasted food.
And, when ye may he fasting, become not ye, as the hypocrites, of sullen countenance,—for they darken their looks, that they may appear, unto men, to be fasting: Verily, I say unto you, they are getting back their reward.
food to delight in, did I not eat, neither flesh nor wine, came into my mouth, nor did I so much as, anoint, myself,—until were fulfilled three sevens of days.
But, thou, Yahweh, Adonay, deal effectually with me, for the sake of thy Name, Since good is thy lovingkindness, O rescue me;For, oppressed and needy, I am, and, my heart, is wounded within me.As a shadow when it stretcheth out, I am gone, I am shaken off like the locust;My knees, tremble from fasting, and, my flesh, faileth of fatness:
Then proclaimed I there a fast, by the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God,—to seek of him a smooth way, for us and for our little ones, and for all our substance.
Let both man and beast, cover themselves with sackcloth, and let them cry unto God, mightily,—Yea let them turn, every man from his wicked way, and from the violence which is in their hands:
And Moses entered into the midst of the cloud and ascended into the mountain. And it came to pass that Moses was in the mountain forty days and forty nights.
Then come near unto him the disciples of John, saying,—Wherefore do, we, and the Pharisees, fast, whereas, thy disciples, fast not?And Jesus said unto them,—Can, the sons of the bridechamber, mourn, so long as, the bridegroom, is, with them? But days will come, when the bridegroom, shall be taken from them, and, then, will they fast.Howbeit, no one, layeth on a patch of unshrunk cloth, upon an old garment,—for the shrinking of it teareth away from the garment, and, a worse rent, is made.Neither pour they new wine into old skins: otherwise at least, the skins are burst, and, the wine, runneth out, and, the skins, are spoiled,—but they pour new wine into unused skins, and, both, are together preserved.
And, throughout every province, whithersoever the word of the king and his edict came, was great mourning to the Jews, and fasting and weeping, and lamentation,—sackcloth and ashes, were spread out for many.
And Jehoshaphat was afraid, and set his face to seek unto Yahweh,—and proclaimed a fast for all Judah.
Is not, this, the fast that I must ever choose—To unbind the tight cords of lawlessness, To unloose the bands of the yoke,—and To let the crushed go free, and That every yoke, ye tear off?Is it not to break unto the hungry, thy bread, And the thrust-out oppressed, that thou bring into a home,—When thou seest one naked, that thou cover him, And from thine own flesh, shalt not hide thyself?Then, shall break forth, as the dawn, thy light, And thy new flesh shall speedily grow,—Then shall go before thee, thy righteousness, the glory of Yahweh shall bring up thy rear:Then, shalt thou Call, and Yahweh, will answer, Cry out, and he will say, Behold me! If thou remove, out of thy midst the yoke, The pointing of the finger, and The speaking of iniquity;And shalt let thine own soul a go out to the hungry, And the soul of the oppressed, thou shalt satisfy, Then shall break forth in darkness thy light, And thy thick darkness, become as the splendour of noon;Then will Yahweh guide thee continually, And will satisfy, even in scorched regions thine own soul, Yea Shy very bones, will he invigorate,—So shall thou become like a garden well—watered, And like a spring of water whose waters do not deceive;And they who come of thee shall build the wastes of age-past times, And as for the foundations of generation after generation, thou shall rear them up,—So shalt thou be called—A Repairer of broken walls, A Restorer of paths leading home.
And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and I mourned certain days,—and continued fasting and praying, before the God of the heavens;and said, I beseech thee, O Yahweh God of the heavens, the great and fearful GOD,—keeping the covenant and lovingkindness for them who love him and keep his commandments:Let, I pray thee, thine ears be attentive and thine eyes open—to hearken unto the prayer of thy servant—-which, I, am praying before thee now, day and night, for the sons of Israel, thy servants,—-and making confession concerning the sins of the sons of Israel, which we have committed against thee, both I and the house of my father, have sinned.We have dealt, very corruptly, against thee,—and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes nor the regulations, which thou didst command Moses thy servant.Remember, I pray thee, the word, which thou didst command Moses thy servant, saying,—If, ye, are unfaithful, I, will scatter you among the peoples:When ye return unto me and keep my commandments and do them, though it should be that ye have been driven out unto the uttermost part of the heavens, from thence, will I gather them, and bring them into the place that I have chosen to make a habitation for my Name there.They, therefore, are thy servants, and thy people,—whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy firm hand.I beseech thee O My Lord, let—I pray thee—thine ear be attentive unto the prayer of thy servant, and unto the prayer of thy servants who delight to revere thy Name, and oh prosper, I pray thee, thy servant to-day, and grant him compassion before this man. Now, I, was cup-bearer unto the king.
I pray thee—prove thy servants, ten days,—and let them give us vegetable food, that we may eat, and water that we may drink:
So they gathered themselves unto Mizpah, and drew water, and poured it out before Yahweh, and fasted on that day, and said, there, We have sinned against Yahweh. And Samuel judged the sons of Israel in Mizpah.And, when the Philistines heard that the sons of Israel had gathered themselves together unto Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel,—and, when the sons of Israel heard it, they shrank with fear, from the face of the Philistines.And the sons of Israel said unto Samuel, Do not turn in silence from us, from making outcry unto Yahweh our God,—that he would save us out of the hand of the Philistines.
And, at the evening gift, I arose from mine affliction, which had been accompanied by the rending of my garment and my robe,—and I bowed upon my knees, and spread forth my hands unto Yahweh my God;
And Cornelius said—Four days ago, counting unto this very hour, I was keeping, the ninth hour, as one of prayer, in my house. And lo! a man stood before me, in bright clothing,
But the man of God said unto the king—If thou wouldst give me the half of thy house, I would not go in with thee,—neither would I eat bread or drink water, in this place;for, so, he charged me, by the word of Yahweh, saying, Thou shalt not eat bread, nor shalt thou drink water,—neither shalt thou come back by the way thou wentest.
Then said he unto me, Do not fear, Daniel, for, from the first day that thou didst set thy heart to understand and to humble thyself before thy God, thy words were heard; and, I, am come, by reason of thy words.But, the ruler of the kingdom of Persia, withstood me twenty-one days, but lo! Michael, one of the chief rulers, came in to help me,—and, I, left him there, beside the kings of Persia.
BOOK THE SECOND To the Chief Musician. An Instructive Psalm for the Sons of Korah. As, the hart, cometh panting up to the channels of water, So my soul, panteth for thee, O God.My soul thirsteth for God, for a GOD who liveth,—When shall I enter in, and see the face of God?
And I gathered them together, unto the river that cometh into Ahava, and we encamped there three days,—and I informed myself among the people and the priests, and, of the sons of Levi, found I none there.So I sent for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men,—also for Joiarib and for Elnathan, teachers.And I sent them forth unto Iddo the chief, at the place Casiphia,—and I put into their mouth words, to speak unto Iddo and his brethren the Nethinim, at the place Casiphia, to bring unto us attendants for the house of our God.So they brought unto us, according to the good hand of our God upon us, a man of discretion, of the sons of Mahli, son of Levi, son of Israel,—and Sherebiah, and his sons and his brethren, eighteen;and Hashabiah, and, with him, Jeshaiah, of the sons of Merari,—his brethren and their sons, twenty;and, of the Nethinim whom David and the rulers had given for the service of the Levites, Nethinim, two hundred and twenty,—all of them, expressed by name.Then proclaimed I there a fast, by the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God,—to seek of him a smooth way, for us and for our little ones, and for all our substance.For I was ashamed to ask of the king, a band of soldiers and horsemen, to help us against the enemy in the way, because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God, is upon all who seek him, for good, But, his power and his anger, are against all who forsake him.So we fasted and sought of our God, concerning this,—and he suffered himself to be entreated by us.
Then, Jesus was led up into the wilderness, by the Spirit, to be tempted by the adversary;and, fasting forty days and forty nights,—afterwards, he hungered.And, coming near, the tempter said to him,—If thou art God’s, Son, speak! that, these stones, may become, loaves.But, he, answering, said, It is written,—Not on bread alone, shall man live, but on every declaration coming forth through the mouth of God.Then, the adversary taketh him with him, unto the holy city,—and he set him upon the pinnacle of the temple;and saith to him—If thou art God’s, Son, cast thyself down,—for it is written, To his messengers, will he give charge concerning thee; and, on hands, will they bear thee up, lest once thou strike, against a stone, thy foot.Jesus said to him, Again, it is written,—Thou shalt not put to the test, the Lord thy God.Again, the adversary taketh him with him, into an exceeding high mountain,—and pointeth out to him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory;and said to him, All these things, will I give thee,—if thou wilt fall down and worship me.Then saith Jesus unto him, Withdraw, Satan! for it is written,—The Lord thy God, shalt thou worship, and, to him alone, render divine service.Then, the adversary leaveth him,—and lo! messengers came near, and began ministering unto him.
But, they, said unto him—The disciples of John, do fast much, and, supplications, do make,—likewise also the disciples of the Pharisees; but, thine, do eat and drink!Jesus, however, said unto them—Can, ye make, the sons of the bridechamber, fast, while the bridegroom is with them?But there will come days, even when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, then, will they fast, in those days.
And the sons of Israel asked of Yahweh,—there, being the ark of the covenant of God, in those days;and Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, was standing before it in those days, saying: Shall I yet again go forth to battle, against the sons of Benjamin, my brother, or shall I forbear? And Yahweh said—Go up, for, to-morrow, will I deliver him into thy hand.
In the first year of Darius son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes,—who was made king over the kingdom of the Chaldeans:in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived by the writings,—the number of the years, as to which the word of Yahweh came unto Jeremiah the prophet, to fulfil the desolations of Jerusalem, seventy years.So I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek him by prayer, and supplication,—with fasting, and sackcloth and ashes;
And Nathan departed unto his own house,—and Yahweh struck the child that the wife of Uriah had borne unto David, and it fell sick.David therefore earnestly sought God in behalf of the boy,—and David kept a fast, and used to go in and pass the night, and lie upon the ground.And the elders of his house stood up over him, to raise him from the ground,—but he would not, neither would he eat food with them.And it came to pass, on the seventh day, that the child died,—but the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead, for said they—Lo! while the child was living, we spake unto him, and he hearkened not unto our voice, how then can we say unto him, The child is dead, and so he do himself harm?But, when David saw that his servants were whispering among themselves, then understood David that the child was dead,—and David said unto his servants—Is the child, dead? And they answered—Dead!Then David arose from the ground, and bathed and anointed, and changed his apparel, and, entering into the house of Yahweh, bowed himself down,—then came he into his own house, and asked, and they set before him food, and he did eat.Then said his servants unto him, What is this thing that thou hast done? For the child’s sake, while living, thou didst fast and weep, but, as soon as the child was dead, thou didst arise and eat food.And he said,—While yet the child lived, I fasted, and wept,—for I said—Who knoweth whether Yahweh may not grant me favour, and the child live?But, now, that he is dead, wherefore should I go on fasting? can I bring him back again? I am going unto him, but, he, will not come back unto me.
Gird yourselves and beat the breast—ye priests, howl, ye attendants of the altar, go in and wrap yourselves for the night in sackcloth, ye attendants on my God,—for, withholden from the house of your God, are the meal-offering and the drink- offering.Hallow ye a fast, Call a solemn assembly, Gather, O elders, all the inhabitants of the land, unto the house of Yahweh your God,—and make ye outcry unto Yahweh.
and said, I beseech thee, O Yahweh God of the heavens, the great and fearful GOD,—keeping the covenant and lovingkindness for them who love him and keep his commandments:Let, I pray thee, thine ears be attentive and thine eyes open—to hearken unto the prayer of thy servant—-which, I, am praying before thee now, day and night, for the sons of Israel, thy servants,—-and making confession concerning the sins of the sons of Israel, which we have committed against thee, both I and the house of my father, have sinned.We have dealt, very corruptly, against thee,—and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes nor the regulations, which thou didst command Moses thy servant.Remember, I pray thee, the word, which thou didst command Moses thy servant, saying,—If, ye, are unfaithful, I, will scatter you among the peoples:When ye return unto me and keep my commandments and do them, though it should be that ye have been driven out unto the uttermost part of the heavens, from thence, will I gather them, and bring them into the place that I have chosen to make a habitation for my Name there.They, therefore, are thy servants, and thy people,—whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy firm hand.I beseech thee O My Lord, let—I pray thee—thine ear be attentive unto the prayer of thy servant, and unto the prayer of thy servants who delight to revere thy Name, and oh prosper, I pray thee, thy servant to-day, and grant him compassion before this man. Now, I, was cup-bearer unto the king.
When I have humbled my soul with fasting, Then hath it turned to my reproach;When I have made my clothing of sackcloth, Then have I served them for a by-word;
And shalt let thine own soul a go out to the hungry, And the soul of the oppressed, thou shalt satisfy, Then shall break forth in darkness thy light, And thy thick darkness, become as the splendour of noon;Then will Yahweh guide thee continually, And will satisfy, even in scorched regions thine own soul, Yea Shy very bones, will he invigorate,—So shall thou become like a garden well—watered, And like a spring of water whose waters do not deceive;
But Daniel laid it upon his heart, that he would not defile himself with the delicacies of the king, nor with the wine which he drank,—therefore sought he of the ruler of the eunuchs, that he might not defile himself.But, although God had brought Daniel into lovingkindness and tender compassion, before the ruler of the eunuchs,yet said the ruler of the eunuchs unto Daniel, I do fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your food and your drink,—for why should he see your faces more sad than those of the youths of your own age? so should ye bring me under the penalty of mine own head unto the king.Then said Daniel, unto the overseer whom the ruler of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:I pray thee—prove thy servants, ten days,—and let them give us vegetable food, that we may eat, and water that we may drink:then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenances of the youths who have been eating the delicacies of the king,—and, as thou shalt see, deal thou with thy servants.So then he hearkened unto them, according to this word,—and proved them ten-days;and, at the end of ten days, their countenances appeared more comely, and fatter in flesh,—than any of the youths who had been eating the delicacies of the king.Thus it came about that the overseer continued taking away their delicacies, and the wine appointed them to drink,—and kept on giving them vegetable food.
But, thou, when thou wouldest pray, enter into thy closet, and, fastening thy door, pray unto thy Father who is in secret,—and, thy Father who seeth in secret, will reward thee.
And I gathered them together, unto the river that cometh into Ahava, and we encamped there three days,—and I informed myself among the people and the priests, and, of the sons of Levi, found I none there.
Then said David to Abiathar the priest, son of Ahimelech, Do bring near me, I pray thee, the ephod. So Abiathar brought near the ephod, unto David.And David enquired of Yahweh, saying, Shall I pursue this troop? shall I overtake it? And he said unto him: Pursue, for thou shalt, overtake, and thou shalt, rescue.
A Melody of David. When he was in the Wilderness of Judah. O God, my GOD, thou art, Earnestly do I desire thee,—My soul thirsteth for thee, My flesh fainteth for thee, In a land—dry, and weary for want of water,—In like manner as, in the sanctuary, I have had vision of thee, To behold thy power and thy glory.Because better is thy lovingkindness than life, My lips, aloud shall praise thee!Thus, will I bless thee while I live, In thy Name, will I lift up mine outspread hands:As with fatness and richness, shall my soul be satisfied, And, with joyfully shouting lips, shall my mouth utter praise.
So he prayed unto Yahweh, and said—Ah now! Yahweh! Was not, this, my word, while I was yet upon mine own soil? For this cause, did I hasten to flee unto Tarshish,—because I knew that, thou, art a GOD of favour and compassion, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, and art grieved over calamity.
Oh taste and see, that good is Yahweh,—How happy the man who seeketh refuge in him!Revere Yahweh, ye his holy ones, For there is no want to them who revere him.Young lions, have come short, and suffered hunger, but, they who seek Yahweh, shall not lack any good thing.
My soul, longeth—yea even languisheth—for the courts of Yahweh,—My heart and my flesh, shout aloud for a Living GOD.
Let them give thanks to Yahweh for his lovingkindness, and for his wonderful dealings with the sons of men;For he hath satisfied the longing soul, and, the famished soul, hath he filled with good.
And there was one Anna, a prophetess, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher;—the same, advanced in many days; having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity,and, she, had been a widow for as long as eighty-four years,—who left not the temple, with fastings and supplications, rendering divine service night and day;—
So he said unto them—Go your way, eat the fat and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared, for holy is the day, unto our Lord,—and be not grieved, for, the joy of Yahweh, is your strength.
And Yahweh became jealous for his land,—and took pity on his people;Then answered Yahweh, and said to his people:—Behold me! sending you the corn, and the new wine and the oil, so shall ye be satisfied therewith; and I will not make you, any more, a reproach among the nations.
And Mordecai wrote these things,—and sent letters unto all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, near, and far off;to establish for them, that they should continue to observe the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day thereof,—always year by year;according to the days wherein the Jews found rest from their enemies, and the month which was turned for them, from sorrow to joy, and from mourning to a happy day,—that they should make them days of banqueting and rejoicing, and of sending portions, every one to his neighbour, and gifts, unto the needy.
Now there were in Antioch, distributed through the existing assembly,—prophets and teachers: both Barnabas and Symeon who was called Niger, and Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen also, Herod the tetrarch’s foster-brother, and Saul.And, as they were publicly ministering unto the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said—Separate forthwith unto me, Barnabas and Saul, unto the work whereunto I have called them.Then, fasting and praying, and laying their hands upon them, they sent them away.
If thou turn back. From the sabbath Shy foot, From doing thine own pleasure on my holy day,—And shall call—The sabbath, An exquisite delight, The holy day of Yahweh, A day to be honoured, And so shall honour it rather—Than do thine own ways, Than take thine own pleasure or Than speak thine own word,Then, shall then rest thine own exquisite delight upon Yahweh, …And I will cause thee to ride over the high places of the land,—And will feed thee with the inheritance of Jacob Shy father, For the mouth of Yahweh, hath spoken.
And it came to pass, after this, that the sons of Moab and the sons of Ammon, and, with them, some of the Meunim, came against Jehoshaphat, to battle.And there came some and told Jehoshaphat, saying, There is coming against thee, a great multitude from beyond the sea, from Syria,—and lo! they are in Hazazon-tamar, the same, is Engedi.And Jehoshaphat was afraid, and set his face to seek unto Yahweh,—and proclaimed a fast for all Judah.And Judah gathered themselves together, to enquire of Yahweh,—even, out of all the cities of Judah, came they in, to seek Yahweh.And Jehoshaphat stood, in the convocation of Judah and Jerusalem in the house of Yahweh,—before the new court;and said, O Yahweh, God of our fathers, art not, thou, God in the heavens? and art, thou, not ruling throughout all the kingdoms of the nations? and, in thy hand, are there not strength and might? and is there any who, against thee, can stand?Art not, thou, our God, who didst dispossess the inhabitants of this land, from before thy people Israel,—and didst give it unto the seed of Abraham who loved thee, unto times age-abiding?and they have dwelt therein,—and have built for thee therein, a sanctuary for thy Name, saying:If there come upon us calamity, the sword of judgment or pestilence or famine, we will stand before this house and before thee, for, thy Name, is in this house,—that we may make outcry unto thee out of our distress, that thou mayest hear and save.Now, therefore, lo! the sons of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom thou didst not suffer Israel to invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt,—but they turned away from them and destroyed them not,yea lo! they, are requiting us,—by coming to drive us out, from thy possession, which thou didst cause us to possess.O our God, wilt thou not bring judgment upon them, seeing that there is, in us, no strength, before this great multitude, that is coming against us,—we, therefore, know not what we shall do, but, unto thee, are our eyes.And, all Judah, were standing before Yahweh,—also their little ones, their wives and their children.Now, as for Jahaziel son of Zechariah son of Benaiah son of Jeiel son of Mattaniah a Levite, of the sons of Asaph, there came upon him the spirit of Yahweh, in the midst of the convocation:and he said, Give ye heed, all Judah and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat! Thus, saith Yahweh unto you. As for you, do not fear nor be dismayed, by reason of this great multitude, for, not yours, is the battle, but, God’s.To-morrow, go ye down against them, for lo! there they are coming up by the ascent of Ziz,—and ye shall find them at the end of the ravine, facing the wilderness of Jeruel.It is not, for you, to fight in this matter,—take your station, stand still, and see the salvation of Yahweh with you, O Judah and Jerusalem, do not fear, nor be dismayed, to-morrow, go ye out to meet them, and, Yahweh, will be with you.And Jehoshaphat bowed his head, with his face to the ground,—and, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, fell down before Yahweh, prostrating themselves unto Yahweh.And Levites—of the sons of the Kohathites and of the sons of the Korahites, stood up to offer praise unto Yahweh, God of Israel, with an exceedingly loud voice.So they rose early in the morning, and went out to the wilderness of Tekoa,—and, as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, Trust ye in Yahweh your God, and ye shall be trusted, Trust ye in his prophets, and ye shall prosper.And, when he had given counsel unto the people, he appointed such as should sing unto Yahweh, and offer praise with holy adorning,—as they should be going forth before the armed men, that they should be saying, O give thanks unto Yahweh, For, age-abiding, is his lovingkindness.And, when they began to sing and to praise, Yahweh had set liers-in-wait against the sons of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, who were coming against Judah, and they were smitten.Then rose up the sons of Ammon and Moab against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, to devote and to destroy,—and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to cut off, every man his neighbour.So when, Judah, came near the watch-tower of the wilderness,—they turned towards the multitude, and lo! there they were, dead bodies fallen to the earth, with none to escape.And, when Jehoshaphat and his people came near to plunder the spoil of them, they found among them, in abundance, both riches and dead bodies and precious jewels, and they stripped off for themselves, beyond what they could carry away,—and they were three days plundering the spoil, for great it was.And, on the fourth day, they assembled themselves in the vale of Beracah, for there they blessed Yahweh,—on this account, was the name of that place called The Vale of Beracah—unto this day.Then turned every man of Judah and Jerusalem, with, Jehoshaphat, at their head, to go again to Jerusalem with joy,—for Yahweh had caused them to rejoice over their enemies.So they came to Jerusalem, with harps and with lyres, and with trumpets,—unto the house of Yahweh.And it came to pass that, the dread of God, was upon all the kingdoms of the countries,-when they heard, that Yahweh had fought against the enemies of Israel.So the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was quiet,—for his God, gave him rest, round about.
Then said Daniel, unto the overseer whom the ruler of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:I pray thee—prove thy servants, ten days,—and let them give us vegetable food, that we may eat, and water that we may drink:
And it came to pass, when Ahab heard these words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted,—and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
And they arose, and went up to Bethel, and asked of God, and the sons of Israel said, Who shall go up for us first, to fight against the sons of Benjamin? And Yahweh said—Judah, first.And the sons of Israel arose in the morning,—and encamped against Gibeah.And the men of Israel went forth, to fight against Benjamin,—so the men of Israel set themselves in array against them, to fight against Gibeah.Then came forth the sons of Benjamin out of Gibeah,—and laid low of Israel, on that day, twenty-two thousand men, to the ground.And the people, the men of Israel, encouraged themselves,—and again set themselves in array for battle in the place where they had set themselves in array on the first day.Now the sons of Israel had gone up, and wept before Yahweh, until the evening, and asked of Yahweh, saying, Shall I again draw near to battle against the sons of Benjamin, my brother? And Yahweh said, Go up against him.So the sons of Israel came near against the sons of Benjamin, on the second day.And Benjamin came forth to meet them out of Gibeah, on the second day, and laid low, of the sons of Israel, yet eighteen thousand men, to the ground,—all these, drew the sword.Then went up all the sons of Israel, and all the people, and came to Bethel, and wept, and tarried there before Yahweh, and fasted on that day, until the evening,—and caused to go up ascending-sacrifices and peace-offerings, before Yahweh.
and, fasting forty days and forty nights,—afterwards, he hungered.And, coming near, the tempter said to him,—If thou art God’s, Son, speak! that, these stones, may become, loaves.But, he, answering, said, It is written,—Not on bread alone, shall man live, but on every declaration coming forth through the mouth of God.
Then, shalt thou Call, and Yahweh, will answer, Cry out, and he will say, Behold me! If thou remove, out of thy midst the yoke, The pointing of the finger, and The speaking of iniquity;And shalt let thine own soul a go out to the hungry, And the soul of the oppressed, thou shalt satisfy, Then shall break forth in darkness thy light, And thy thick darkness, become as the splendour of noon;
Hallow ye a fast, Call a solemn assembly, Gather, O elders, all the inhabitants of the land, unto the house of Yahweh your God,—and make ye outcry unto Yahweh.Alas for the day! For near is the day of Yahweh, and, as a veritable Destruction from the Destroyer, shall it come.Is it not, before our eyes, that, food, hath been cut off? From the house of our God, rejoicing and exultation.
And he caused an outcry to be made—and said—throughout Nineveh, By decree of the king and of his great men, Be it known:—Man and beast, herd and flock, Let them taste, nothing, let them not feed, and, water, let them not drink:Let both man and beast, cover themselves with sackcloth, and let them cry unto God, mightily,—Yea let them turn, every man from his wicked way, and from the violence which is in their hands:Who knoweth whether God himself—may turn and grieve,—and turn away from the glow of his anger, that we perish not?And God saw their doings, that they turned from their wicked way,—and God was grieved over the calamity which he had spoken of executing upon them, and executed it not.
So they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of Yahweh their God, a fourth part of the day,—and, a fourth part, they were making confession and bowing themselves down, unto Yahweh their God.
And Nathan departed unto his own house,—and Yahweh struck the child that the wife of Uriah had borne unto David, and it fell sick.David therefore earnestly sought God in behalf of the boy,—and David kept a fast, and used to go in and pass the night, and lie upon the ground.
Then the king departed to his palace, and spent the night fasting, and no, table, was brought in before him,—and, his sleep, fled from him.Then the king rose early, with the dawn,—and, hastily—unto the den of lions, departed;and, when he drew near to the den, unto Daniel, with distressed voice, made he outcry,—the king spake and said unto Daniel, O Daniel! servant of the Living God! Thy God, whom thou art serving continually, hath he been able to deliver thee from the lions?Then, Daniel, with the king, spake,—O king! for ages, live!My God, hath sent his messenger, and hath shut the mouth of the lions, and they have not hurt me; forasmuch as, before him, rectitude was found in me, moreover also, before thee, O king, no, crime, had I committed.Then, the king, was exceedingly glad concerning him, and gave word to take up, Daniel, out of the den. So Daniel, was taken up, out of the den, and, no manner of hurt, was found in him, for that he had trusted in his God.And the king, gave word, that they should bring those men who had accused Daniel, and, into the den of lions, they cast them—them, their children, and their wives,—and, they had not reached the bottom of the den, when the lions, seized them, and, all their bones, brake they in pieces.
forty days,—being tempted by the adversary; and he did eat nothing in those days,—and, when they were concluded, he hungered.
And, straightway, there fell from him—from his eyes,—as it were scales; he recovered sight also, and, arising, was immersed:And, receiving food, gained strength. And he came to be with the disciples who were in Damascus certain days;
Then arose Ezra from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Jehohanan son of Eliashib,—and, when he came thither, bread, did he not eat, and, water, did he not drink, for he was mourning over the unfaithfulness of them of the Exile.Then made they a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem, unto all the Sons of the Exile, to gather themselves together unto Jerusalem;and, whosoever should not come within three days, according to the counsel of the rulers and the elders, all his goods should be devoted,—and, himself, be separated from the convocation of them of the Exile.
Even now, therefore, urgeth Yahweh, Turn ye unto me, with all your heart,—and with fasting and with weeping, and with lamentation;
In the third year of Cyrus, king of Persia, a matter, was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and faithful was the matter, but concerned a great warfare, and he marked the word, and had understanding in the revelation.In those days, I, Daniel, was mourning three sevens of days:food to delight in, did I not eat, neither flesh nor wine, came into my mouth, nor did I so much as, anoint, myself,—until were fulfilled three sevens of days.
But, every man who striveth in the games, in all things, useth self-control;—they, indeed, then, that a corruptible crown, they may receive; but, we, an incorruptible!I, therefore, so, am running, as, not uncertainly, so, am boxing, as not thrashing air;But am beating my body under, and leading it captive, lest, by any means,—unto others, having proclaimed, the contest , I myself, should be rejected.
A Melody of David. When he was in the Wilderness of Judah. O God, my GOD, thou art, Earnestly do I desire thee,—My soul thirsteth for thee, My flesh fainteth for thee, In a land—dry, and weary for want of water,—
yea I prayed unto Yahweh my God, and made confession,—and said—I beseech thee, O Lord, the GOD great and to be revered, keeping the covenant and the lovingkindness, to them who love him, and to them who keep his commandments.We have sinned and committed iniquity, and been guilty of lawlessness and been rebellious,—even departing from thy commandments, and from thy regulations;and have not hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, who spake in thy name, unto our kings, our rulers, and our fathers,—and unto all the people of the land.
But, they, said unto him—The disciples of John, do fast much, and, supplications, do make,—likewise also the disciples of the Pharisees; but, thine, do eat and drink!