²⁹ “This is to be a lasting ordinance^(A) for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month^(B) you must deny yourselves^[a](C) and not do any work^(D)—whether native-born^(E) or a foreigner residing among you— ³⁰ because on this day atonement will be made^(F) for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the Lord, you will be clean from all your sins.^{(G) 31} It is a day of sabbath rest, and you must deny yourselves;^(H) it is a lasting ordinance.^(I)

The Day of Atonement^(A)

²⁶ The Lord said to Moses, ²⁷ “The tenth day of this seventh month^(B) is the Day of Atonement.^(C) Hold a sacred assembly^(D) and deny yourselves,^[a] and present a food offering to the Lord. ²⁸ Do not do any work^(E) on that day, because it is the Day of Atonement, when atonement is made for you before the Lord your God. ²⁹ Those who do not deny themselves on that day must be cut off from their people.^{(F) 30} I will destroy from among their people^(G) anyone who does any work on that day. ³¹ You shall do no work at all. This is to be a lasting ordinance^(H) for the generations to come, wherever you live. ³² It is a day of sabbath rest^(I) for you, and you must deny yourselves. From the evening of the ninth day of the month until the following evening you are to observe your sabbath.”^(J)

²¹ There, by the Ahava Canal,^(A) I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey^(B) for us and our children, with all our possessions. ²² I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers^(C) and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone^(D) who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.^(E)” ²³ So we fasted^(F) and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.