Whyhave we fastedand You do not see?[Why] have we humbledourselvesand You do not notice?'Behold,on the dayof your fastyou find[your] desire,And drivehardallyour workers.
Then I proclaimeda fastthereat the riverof Ahava,that we might humbleourselves beforeour Godto seekfrom Him a safejourneyfor us, our littleones,and allour possessions.
I consultedwith myself and contendedwith the noblesand the rulersand saidto them, "You are exactingusury,eachfrom his brother!"Therefore, I helda greatassemblyagainstthem.
"For he has said,It profitsa mannothingWhen he is pleasedwith God.'
When I weptin my soulwith fasting,It becamemy reproach.
He who turnsawayhis earfrom listeningto the law,Evenhis prayeris an abomination.
Therefore in that daythe LordGODof hostscalled[you] to weeping,to wailing,To shavingthe headand to wearingsackcloth.
Instead, there is gaietyand gladness,Killingof cattleand slaughteringof sheep,Eatingof meatand drinkingof wine:"Let us eatand drink,for tomorrowwe may die."
"I was angrywith My people,I profanedMy heritageAnd gavethem into your hand.You did not showmercyto them, On the agedyou madeyour yokeveryheavy.
"[This] shall be a permanentstatutefor you: in the seventhmonth,on the tenthday of the month,you shall humbleyour soulsand not doanywork,whether the native,or the alienwho sojournsamongyou;
"It is to be a sabbathof solemnrestfor you, that you may humbleyour souls;it is a permanentstatute.
"On exactlythe tenthday of thisseventhmonthis the dayof atonement;it shall be a holyconvocationfor you, and you shall humbleyour soulsand presentan offeringby fireto the LORD.
"You have said,It is vainto serveGod;and whatprofitis it that we have keptHis charge,and that we have walkedin mourningbeforethe LORDof hosts?
Now GodmetBalaam,and he saidto Him, "I have setup the sevenaltars,and I have offeredup a bulland a ramon each altar."
"But he answeredand saidto his father,'Look!For so manyyearsI have been servingyou and I have neverneglecteda commandof yours;and [yet] you have nevergivenme a young goat,sothat I might celebratewith my friends;
