^12 (A)When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and ^(B)when they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them. But ^(C)I will consume them by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.”

The Uselessness of Selfish Toil

4 Then I returned and considered all the ^(A)oppression that is done under the sun:

^9 (A)And Nehemiah, who was the ^[a]governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, ^(B)“This day is holy to the Lord your God; ^(C)do not mourn nor weep.” For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law.

¹⁰ Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, ^(D)and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

¹¹ So the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved.” ¹² And all the people went their way to eat and drink, to ^(E)send portions and rejoice greatly, because they ^(F)understood the words that were declared to them.

¹⁹ Then Tamar put ^(A)ashes on her head, and tore her robe of many colors that was on her, and ^(B)laid her hand on her head and went away crying bitterly. ²⁰ And Absalom her brother said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother; do not take this thing to heart.” So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house.