Add parallel Print Page Options

14 Announce a time of fasting;
    call the people together for a solemn meeting.
Bring the leaders
    and all the people of the land
into the Temple of the Lord your God,
    and cry out to him there.

Read full chapter

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)

Read full chapter

15 Blow the ram’s horn in Jerusalem!
    Announce a time of fasting;
call the people together
    for a solemn meeting.
16 Gather all the people—
    the elders, the children, and even the babies.
Call the bridegroom from his quarters
    and the bride from her private room.

Read full chapter

15 Blow the trumpet(A) in Zion,(B)
    declare a holy fast,(C)
    call a sacred assembly.(D)
16 Gather the people,
    consecrate(E) the assembly;
bring together the elders,(F)
    gather the children,
    those nursing at the breast.
Let the bridegroom(G) leave his room
    and the bride her chamber.

Read full chapter

Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the Lord for guidance. He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting. So people from all the towns of Judah came to Jerusalem to seek the Lord’s help.

Read full chapter

Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast(A) for all Judah. The people of Judah(B) came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.

Read full chapter

People and animals alike must wear garments of mourning, and everyone must pray earnestly to God. They must turn from their evil ways and stop all their violence.

Read full chapter

But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call(A) urgently on God. Let them give up(B) their evil ways(C) and their violence.(D)

Read full chapter

13 As all the men of Judah stood before the Lord with their little ones, wives, and children,

Read full chapter

13 All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the Lord.

Read full chapter

10 All of you—tribal leaders, elders, officers, all the men of Israel—are standing today in the presence of the Lord your God. 11 Your little ones and your wives are with you, as well as the foreigners living among you who chop your wood and carry your water.

Read full chapter

10 All of you are standing today in the presence of the Lord your God—your leaders and chief men, your elders and officials, and all the other men of Israel, 11 together with your children and your wives, and the foreigners living in your camps who chop your wood and carry your water.(A)

Read full chapter

36 For seven days you must present special gifts to the Lord. The eighth day is another holy day on which you present your special gifts to the Lord. This will be a solemn occasion, and no ordinary work may be done that day.

Read full chapter

36 For seven days present food offerings to the Lord, and on the eighth day hold a sacred assembly(A) and present a food offering to the Lord.(B) It is the closing special assembly; do no regular work.

Read full chapter

Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all foreigners as they confessed their own sins and the sins of their ancestors. They remained standing in place for three hours[a] while the Book of the Law of the Lord their God was read aloud to them. Then for three more hours they confessed their sins and worshiped the Lord their God.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 9:3 Hebrew for a quarter of a day.

Those of Israelite descent had separated themselves from all foreigners.(A) They stood in their places and confessed their sins and the sins of their ancestors.(B) They stood where they were and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day, and spent another quarter in confession and in worshiping the Lord their God.

Read full chapter

18 Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God on each of the seven days of the festival. Then on the eighth day they held a solemn assembly, as was required by law.

Read full chapter

18 Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read(A) from the Book of the Law(B) of God. They celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day, in accordance with the regulation,(C) there was an assembly.(D)

Read full chapter