2 Chronicles 20:1-4

New International Version

Jehoshaphat Defeats Moab and Ammon

20 After this, the Moabites^(A) and Ammonites with some of the Meunites^[a]^(B) came to wage war against Jehoshaphat.

²Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army^(C) is coming against you from Edom,^[b] from the other side of the Dead Sea. It is already in Hazezon Tamar^(D)” (that is, En Gedi).^(E) ³Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast^(F) for all Judah. ⁴The people of Judah^(G) came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.

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Footnotes

2 Chronicles 20:1 Some Septuagint manuscripts; Hebrew Ammonites
2 Chronicles 20:2 One Hebrew manuscript; most Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate Aram

Ezra 8:21-23

New International Version

²¹There, 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. ²²I 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)” ²³So we fasted^(F) and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.

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Nehemiah 1

New International Version

Nehemiah’s Prayer

1 The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah:

In the month of Kislev^(A) in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa,^(B) ²Hanani,^(C) one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant^(D) that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.

³They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.^(E)”

⁴When I heard these things, I sat down and wept.^(F) For some days I mourned and fasted^(G) and prayed before the God of heaven. ⁵Then I said:

“Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God,^(H) who keeps his covenant of love^(I) with those who love him and keep his commandments, ⁶let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear^(J) the prayer^(K) your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess^(L) the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. ⁷We have acted very wickedly^(M) toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.

⁸“Remember^(N) the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter^(O) you among the nations, ⁹but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather^(P) them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’^(Q)

¹⁰“They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand.^(R) ¹¹Lord, let your ear be attentive^(S) to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor^(T) in the presence of this man.”

I was cupbearer^(U) to the king.

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Psalm 109:21-25

New International Version

²¹But you, Sovereign Lord,
    help me for your name’s sake;^(A)
    out of the goodness of your love,^(B) deliver me.^(C)
²²For I am poor and needy,
    and my heart is wounded within me.
²³I fade away like an evening shadow;^(D)
    I am shaken off like a locust.
²⁴My knees give^(E) way from fasting;^(F)
    my body is thin and gaunt.^(G)
²⁵I am an object of scorn^(H) to my accusers;
    when they see me, they shake their heads.^(I)