And I called a fast there at the river Ahava, so that we might humble ourselves before our God, in order to seek from Him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our goods.
They say, Why have we fasted, and You did not see? We have afflicted our soul, and You did not know. Behold, on the day of your fast you find pleasure; and you drive all your laborers hard.
Is the fast I choose, a day for a man to afflict his soul? To bow his head down like a bulrush, and he spreads sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast and a day of delight to Jehovah?
And he said to me, Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you gave your heart to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.
It is a sabbath of rest to you, and you shall humble your souls in the ninth of the month at evening; from evening until evening you shall keep your sabbath.
And in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest to the land, a sabbath to Jehovah. You shall not sow your field, and you shall not prune your vineyard.