"Is it a fastlike thiswhich I choose,a dayfor a manto humblehimself?Is it for bowingone's headlike a reedAnd for spreadingout sackclothand ashesas a bed? Will you callthisa fast,even an acceptabledayto the LORD?
When the kingheardthe wordsof the woman,he torehis clothes--now he was passingby on the wall--and the peoplelooked,and behold,he had sackclothbeneathon his body.
Jehoshaphatwas afraidand turnedhis attentionto seekthe LORD,and proclaimeda fastthroughoutallJudah.
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.
"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."
In eachand everyprovincewherethe commandand decreeof the kingcame,there was greatmourningamong the Jews,with fasting,weepingand wailing;and manylayon sackclothand ashes.
And he tooka potsherdto scrapehimself while he was sittingamongthe ashes.
But as for me, my prayeris to You, O LORD,at an acceptabletime;O God,in the greatnessof Your lovingkindness,Answerme with Your savingtruth.
Thussaysthe LORD,"In a favorabletimeI have answeredYou, And in a dayof salvationI have helpedYou; And I will keepYou and giveYou for a covenantof the people,To restorethe land,to make [them] inheritthe desolateheritages;
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.
To proclaimthe favorableyearof the LORDAnd the dayof vengeanceof our God;To comfortallwho mourn,
"[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.
"Sayto allthe peopleof the landand to the priests,'Whenyou fastedand mournedin the fifthand seventhmonths theseseventyyears,was it actuallyfor Me that you fasted?
"Wheneveryou fast,do not puton a gloomy faceas the hypocrites[do], for they neglecttheir appearancesothat they will be noticedby menwhen they are fasting.TrulyI sayto you, they havetheir rewardin full.
TO PROCLAIMTHE FAVORABLEYEAROF THE LORD."
And do not be conformedto thisworld,but be transformedby the renewingof your mind,sothat you may provewhatthe willof Godis, that which is goodand acceptableand perfect.
you also,as livingstones,are being builtup as a spiritualhousefor a holypriesthood,to offerup spiritualsacrificesacceptableto GodthroughJesusChrist.
