When I heardthesewords,I satdownand weptand mournedfor days;and I was fastingand prayingbeforethe Godof heaven.
Davidtherefore inquiredof Godfor the child;and Davidfastedand wentand layall nighton the ground.
becauseyour heartwas tenderand you humbledyourselfbeforethe LORDwhen you heardwhatI spokeagainstthisplaceand againstits inhabitantsthat they should becomea desolationand a curse,and you have tornyour clothesand weptbeforeMe, I trulyhave heardyou," declaresthe LORD.
NowSolomonhad madea bronzeplatform,fivecubitslong,fivecubitswideand threecubitshigh,and had setit in the midstof the court;and he stoodon it, knelton his kneesin the presenceof allthe assemblyof Israeland spreadout his handstoward heaven.
"ThussaysCyruskingof Persia,'The LORD,the Godof heaven,has givenme allthe kingdomsof the earthand He has appointedme to buildHim a housein Jerusalem,whichis in Judah.
Now while Ezrawas prayingand makingconfession,weepingand prostratinghimself beforethe houseof God,a verylargeassembly,men,womenand children,gatheredto him from Israel;for the peopleweptbitterly.
When I heardabout thismatter,I toremy garmentand my robe,and pulledsomeof the hairfrom my headand my beard,and satdownappalled.
But at the eveningofferingI arosefrom my humiliation,even with my garmentand my robetorn,and I fellon my kneesand stretchedout my handsto the LORDmy God;
So I answeredthem and saidto them, "The Godof heavenwill giveus success;therefore we His servantswill ariseand build,but you havenoportion,rightor memorialin Jerusalem."
Then the kingsaidto me, "Whatwould you request?"So I prayedto the Godof heaven.
So the nationswill fearthe nameof the LORDAnd allthe kingsof the earthYour glory.
Givethanksto the Godof heaven,For His lovingkindnessis everlasting.
By the riversof Babylon,Therewe satdownand wept,When we rememberedZion.
In thosedays,I, Daniel,had beenmourningfor threeentireweeks.
so that they might requestcompassionfrom the Godof heavenconcerningthismystery,sothat Danieland his friendswould not be destroyedwith the restof the wisemenof Babylon.
So I gavemy attentionto the LordGodto seek[Him by] prayerand supplications,with fasting,sackclothand ashes.
He saidto them, "I am a Hebrew,and I fearthe LORDGodof heavenwhomadethe seaand the dryland."
"I will gatherthose who grieveaboutthe appointedfeasts--They camefrom you, [O Zion]; [The] reproach[of exile] is a burdenon them.
Rejoicewith those who rejoice,and weepwith those who weep.
