Fasting and Prayer for Protection

21 (A)Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river (B)Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, (C)to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods.

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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.

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Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face (A)to seek the Lord, and (B)proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

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Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast(A) for all Judah.

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14 (A)Consecrate a fast;
    (B)call a solemn assembly.
Gather (C)the elders
    and (D)all the inhabitants of the land
to the house of the Lord your God,
    and cry out to the Lord.

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14 Declare a holy fast;(A)
    call a sacred assembly.
Summon the elders
    and all who live in the land(B)
to the house of the Lord your God,
    and cry out(C) to the Lord.(D)

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21 (A)And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is (B)the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.

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21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice(A) behind you, saying, “This is the way;(B) walk in it.”

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So they gathered at (A)Mizpah (B)and drew water and poured it out before the Lord (C)and fasted on that day and said there, (D)“We have sinned against the Lord.” And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah.

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When they had assembled at Mizpah,(A) they drew water and poured(B) it out before the Lord. On that day they fasted and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the Lord.” Now Samuel was serving as leader[a](C) of Israel at Mizpah.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 7:6 Traditionally judge; also in verse 15

(A)And the people of Nineveh believed God. (B)They called for a fast and (C)put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.

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The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.(A)

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29 For whoever is not afflicted[a] on that very day (A)shall be cut off from his people.

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Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 23:29 Or is not fasting

29 Those who do not deny themselves on that day must be cut off from their people.(A)

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29 “And it shall be a statute to you forever that (A)in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall (B)afflict yourselves[a] and shall do no work, either (C)the native or the stranger who sojourns among you.

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Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 16:29 Or shall fast; also verse 31

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—

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Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 16:29 Or must fast; also in verse 31

Return to the Lord

12 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord,
    (A)“return to me with all your heart,
(B)with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
13     and (C)rend your hearts and not (D)your garments.”
Return to the Lord your God,
    (E)for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;
    (F)and he relents over disaster.
14 (G)Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,
    and (H)leave a blessing behind him,
(I)a grain offering and a drink offering
    for the Lord your God?

15 (J)Blow the trumpet in Zion;
    (K)consecrate a fast;
call a solemn assembly;
16     gather the people.
(L)Consecrate the congregation;
    assemble the elders;
(M)gather the children,
    even nursing infants.
(N)Let the bridegroom leave his room,
    and the bride her chamber.

17 (O)Between the (P)vestibule and the (Q)altar
    (R)let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep
and say, “Spare your people, O Lord,
    and make not your heritage a reproach,
    a byword among the nations.[a]
(S)Why should they say among the peoples,
    ‘Where is their God?’”

The Lord Had Pity

18 (T)Then the Lord became jealous for his land
    (U)and had pity on his people.

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Footnotes

  1. Joel 2:17 Or reproach, that the nations should rule over them

Rend Your Heart

12 “Even now,” declares the Lord,
    “return(A) to me with all your heart,(B)
    with fasting and weeping and mourning.”

13 Rend your heart(C)
    and not your garments.(D)
Return(E) to the Lord your God,
    for he is gracious and compassionate,(F)
slow to anger and abounding in love,(G)
    and he relents from sending calamity.(H)
14 Who knows? He may turn(I) and relent(J)
    and leave behind a blessing(K)
grain offerings and drink offerings(L)
    for the Lord your God.

15 Blow the trumpet(M) in Zion,(N)
    declare a holy fast,(O)
    call a sacred assembly.(P)
16 Gather the people,
    consecrate(Q) the assembly;
bring together the elders,(R)
    gather the children,
    those nursing at the breast.
Let the bridegroom(S) leave his room
    and the bride her chamber.
17 Let the priests, who minister(T) before the Lord,
    weep(U) between the portico and the altar.(V)
Let them say, “Spare your people, Lord.
    Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn,(W)
    a byword(X) among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
    ‘Where is their God?(Y)’”

The Lord’s Answer

18 Then the Lord was jealous(Z) for his land
    and took pity(AA) on his people.

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(A)Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
    for in you I (B)trust.
(C)Make me know the way I should go,
    (D)for to you I lift up my soul.

(E)Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord!
    I have fled to you for refuge.[a]
10 (F)Teach me to do your will,
    for you are my God!
(G)Let your good Spirit (H)lead me
    on (I)level ground!

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 143:9 One Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts To you I have covered

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,(A)
    for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way(B) I should go,
    for to you I entrust my life.(C)
Rescue me(D) from my enemies,(E) Lord,
    for I hide myself in you.
10 Teach me(F) to do your will,
    for you are my God;(G)
may your good Spirit
    lead(H) me on level ground.(I)

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Let (A)the redeemed of the Lord say so,
    whom he has (B)redeemed from trouble[a]
and (C)gathered in from the lands,
    from the east and from the west,
    from the north and from the south.

Some (D)wandered in desert wastes,
    finding no way (E)to a city to dwell in;
hungry and thirsty,
    their soul (F)fainted within them.
Then they (G)cried to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he delivered them from their distress.
He led them by (H)a straight way
    till they reached (I)a city to dwell in.
(J)Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
    for his wondrous works to the children of man!

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 107:2 Or from the hand of the foe

Let the redeemed(A) of the Lord tell their story—
    those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,
those he gathered(B) from the lands,
    from east and west, from north and south.[a]

Some wandered in desert(C) wastelands,
    finding no way to a city(D) where they could settle.
They were hungry(E) and thirsty,(F)
    and their lives ebbed away.
Then they cried out(G) to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he delivered them from their distress.
He led them by a straight way(H)
    to a city(I) where they could settle.
Let them give thanks(J) to the Lord for his unfailing love(K)
    and his wonderful deeds(L) for mankind,

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 107:3 Hebrew north and the sea

16 (A)And I will lead the blind
    in a way that they do not know,
in paths that they have not known
    I will guide them.
I will turn the darkness before them into light,
    (B)the rough places into level ground.
These are the things I do,
    and I do not forsake them.

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16 I will lead(A) the blind(B) by ways they have not known,
    along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;
I will turn the darkness into light(C) before them
    and make the rough places smooth.(D)
These are the things I will do;
    I will not forsake(E) them.

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(A)Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness
    because of my enemies;
    (B)make your way straight before me.

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Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness(A)
    because of my enemies—
    make your way straight(B) before me.

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