So the captainapproachedhim and said,"Howis it that you are sleeping?Getup, callon your god.Perhaps[your] godwill be concernedabout us so that we will not perish."
He said,"While the childwas [still] alive,I fastedand wept;for I said,Whoknows,the LORDmay be graciousto me, that the childmay live.'
"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."
Then they criedout to the LORDin their trouble;He deliveredthem out of their distresses.
WhenHe killedthem, then they soughtHim, And returnedand searcheddiligentlyfor God;
"Whatdo you mean by crushingMy peopleAnd grindingthe faceof the poor?"Declaresthe LordGODof hosts.
"Whatdo you mean by usingthisproverbconcerningthe landof Israel,saying,The fatherseatthe sourgrapes,But the children'steethare seton edge'?
The LORDuttersHis voicebeforeHis army;SurelyHis campis verygreat,For strongis he who carriesout His word.The dayof the LORDis indeedgreatand veryawesome,And who can endureit?
Hateevil,lovegood,And establishjusticein the gate!Perhapsthe LORDGodof hostsMay be graciousto the remnantof Joseph.
"But both manand beastmust be coveredwith sackcloth;and let men callon Godearnestlythat eachmay turnfrom his wickedwayand from the violencewhichis in his hands.
"Whoknows,Godmay turnand relentand withdrawHis burningangerso that we will not perish."
ThenPaulanswered,"Whatare you doing,weepingand breakingmy heart?For I amreadynot onlyto be bound,but evento dieat Jerusalemfor the nameof the LordJesus."
[Do] this,knowingthe time,that it is alreadythe hourfor you to awakenfrom sleep;for nowsalvationis nearerto us thanwhenwe believed.
For this reasonit says,"Awake,sleeper,And arisefrom the dead,And Christwill shineon you."
