So I gavemy attentionto the LordGodto seek[Him by] prayerand supplications,with fasting,sackclothand ashes.
Callto Me and I will answeryou, and I will tellyou greatand mightythings,which you do not know.'
"Go,assembleallthe Jewswho are foundin Susa,and fastfor me; do not eator drinkfor threedays,nightor day.I and my maidensalsowill fastin the sameway.And thusI will goin to the king,whichis not according to the law;and ifI perish,I perish."
But at the eveningofferingI arosefrom my humiliation,even with my garmentand my robetorn,and I fellon my kneesand stretchedout my handsto the LORDmy God;
Then Ezrarosefrom beforethe houseof Godand wentinto the chamberof Jehohananthe sonof Eliashib.Although he wentthere,he did not eatbreadnordrinkwater,for he was mourningoverthe unfaithfulnessof the exiles.
Then I proclaimeda fastthereat the riverof Ahava,that we might humbleourselves beforeour Godto seekfrom Him a safejourneyfor us, our littleones,and allour possessions.
Corneliussaid,"Fourdaysagoto thishour,I was prayingin my houseduring the ninth hour;and behold,a manstoodbeforeme in shininggarments,
and then as a widowto the ageof eighty-four.She neverleftthe temple,servingnightand daywith fastingsand prayers.
"Yet evennow,"declaresthe LORD,"Returnto Me with allyour heart,And with fasting,weepingand mourning;
Girdyourselves[with sackcloth] And lament,O priests;Wail,O ministersof the altar!Come,spendthe nightin sackclothO ministersof my God,For the grain offeringand the drinkofferingAre withheldfrom the houseof your God.
Thussaysthe LordGOD,"ThisalsoI will let the houseof IsraelaskMe to dofor them: I will increasetheir menlike a flock.
But as for me, when they were sick,my clothingwas sackcloth;I humbledmy soulwith fasting,And my prayerkept returningto my bosom.
Now whenDanielknewthat the documentwas signed,he enteredhis house(now in his roofchamberhe had windowsopentowardJerusalem);and he continued kneelingon his kneesthreetimesa day,prayingand givingthanksbeforehis God,as he had been doingpreviously.
Now on the twenty-fourthdayof thismonththe sonsof Israelassembledwith fasting,in sackclothand with dirtupon them.
Therefore in that daythe LordGODof hostscalled[you] to weeping,to wailing,To shavingthe headand to wearingsackcloth.
in the firstyearof his reign,I, Daniel,observedin the booksthe numberof the yearswhichwas [revealed as] the wordof the LORDto Jeremiahthe prophetfor the completionof the desolationsof Jerusalem,[namely], seventyyears.
I prayedto the LORDmy Godand confessedand said,"Alas,O Lord,the greatand awesomeGod,who keepsHis covenantand lovingkindnessfor those who loveHim and keepHis commandments,
Now whileI was speakingand praying,and confessingmy sinand the sinof my peopleIsrael,and presentingmy supplicationbeforethe LORDmy Godin behalfof the holymountainof my God,
Then the peopleof Ninevehbelievedin God;and they calleda fastand puton sackclothfrom the greatestto the leastof them.
Davidtherefore inquiredof Godfor the child;and Davidfastedand wentand layall nighton the ground.
ThereforeI retract,And I repentin dustand ashes."
["But thiskinddoes not goout exceptby prayerand fasting.]"
