Ezra 8:21

New International Reader's Version

By the canal that flows toward Ahava, I announced a fast. I told the people not to eat any food. In that way, we made ourselves humble in God’s sight. We prayed that he would give us and our children a safe journey. We asked him to keep safe everything we owned.

Cross References

2 Chronicles 20:3

Jehoshaphat was alarmed. So he decided to ask the Lord for advice. He told all the people of Judah to go without eating.

2 Chronicles 20:4

The people came together to ask the Lord for help. In fact, they came from every town in Judah to pray to him.

Ezra 8:15

I gathered the people together at the canal that flows toward Ahava. We camped there for three days. I looked for Levites among the people and priests. But I didn’t find any.

Ezra 8:31

On the 12th day of the first month we started out. We left the canal that flows toward Ahava. And we headed for Jerusalem. Our God helped us. He kept us safe from enemies and robbers along the way.

Nehemiah 9:1

It was the 24th day of the seventh month. The Israelites gathered together again. They didn’t eat any food. They wore the rough clothing people wear when they’re sad. They put dust on their heads.

Esther 4:16

“Go. Gather together all the Jews who are in Susa. And fast for my benefit. Don’t eat or drink anything for three days. Don’t do it night or day. I and my attendants will fast just as you do. Then I’ll go to the king. I’ll do it even though it’s against the law. And if I have to die, I’ll die.”

Psalm 137:1

We were sitting by the rivers of Babylon. We wept when we remembered what had happened to Zion.

Psalm 5:8

Lord, I have many enemies. Lead me in your right path. Make your way smooth and straight for me.

Psalm 5:9

Not a word from their mouths can be trusted. Their hearts are filled with a desire to hurt others. Their throats are like open graves. With their tongues they tell lies.

Psalm 8:2

You have made sure that children and infants praise you. Their praise is a wall that stops the talk of your enemies.

Proverbs 3:6

In all your ways obey him. Then he will make your paths smooth and straight.

Isaiah 30:21

You will hear your Teacher’s voice behind you. You will hear it whether you turn to the right or the left. It will say, “Here is the path I want you to take. So walk on it.”

Isaiah 35:8

A wide road will go through the land. It will be called the Way of Holiness. Only those who lead a holy life can use it. “Unclean” and foolish people can’t walk on it.

Isaiah 42:16

Israel is blind. So I will lead them along paths they had not known before. I will guide them on roads they are not familiar with. I will turn the darkness into light as they travel. I will make the rough places smooth. Those are the things I will do. I will not desert my people.

Isaiah 49:10

They will not get hungry or thirsty. The heat from the desert sun will not beat down on them. The God who has tender love for them will guide them. Like a shepherd, he will lead them beside springs of water.

Isaiah 58:3

‘We have gone without food,’ they say. ‘Why haven’t you noticed it? We have made ourselves suffer. Why haven’t you paid any attention to us?’ “On the day when you fast, you do as you please. You take advantage of all your workers.

Isaiah 58:5

Do you think that is the way I want you to fast? Is it only a time for people to make themselves suffer? Is it only for people to bow their heads like tall grass bent by the wind? Is it only for people to lie down in ashes and clothes of mourning? Is that what you call a fast? Do you think I can accept that?

Jeremiah 10:23

Lord, I know that a person doesn’t control their own life. They don’t direct their own steps.

Jeremiah 42:3

So pray to the Lord your God. Pray that he’ll tell us where we should go. Pray that he’ll tell us what we should do.”

Daniel 9:3

So I prayed to the Lord God. I begged him. I made many appeals to him. I didn’t eat anything. I put on the rough clothing people wear when they’re sad. And I sat down in ashes.

Joel 1:14

Announce a holy fast. Tell the people not to eat anything. Gather them together for a special service. Send for the elders and all who live in the land. Have them come to the house of the Lord your God. And pray to him.

Leviticus 16:29

“Here is a law for you that will last for all time to come. On the tenth day of the seventh month you must not eat anything. You must not do any work. It does not matter whether you are Israelites or outsiders.

Leviticus 16:31

That day is a sabbath for you. You must rest on it. You must not eat anything on that day. This is a law that will last for all time to come.

Leviticus 23:29

Suppose you do eat food on that day. Then you will be separated from your people.

Jonah 3:5

The people of Nineveh believed God’s warning. So they decided not to eat any food for a while. And all of them put on the rough clothing people wear when they’re sad. That’s what everyone did, from the least important of them to the most important.

Jonah 3:7

Here is the message he sent out to the people of Nineveh. “I and my nobles give this order. Don’t let people or animals taste anything. That includes your herds and flocks. People and animals must not eat or drink anything.

Numbers 14:3

Why is the Lord bringing us to this land? We’re going to be killed by swords. Our enemies will capture our wives and children. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?”

Numbers 14:31

You have said that your enemies would capture your children. But I will bring your children in to enjoy the land you have turned your backs on.

Acts 2:39

The promise is for you and your children. It is also for all who are far away. It is for all whom the Lord our God will choose.”

Judges 20:26

Then all the Israelites, the whole army, went up to Bethel. They sat there and wept in front of the Lord. They didn’t eat anything that day until evening. Then they brought burnt offerings and friendship offerings to the Lord.

1 Samuel 7:6

When the people had come together at Mizpah, they went to the well and got water. They poured it out in front of the Lord. On that day they didn’t eat any food. They admitted they had sinned. They said, “We’ve sinned against the Lord.” Samuel was serving as the leader of Israel at Mizpah.