And there by the Ahava Canal, I gave orders for all of us to fast and humble ourselves before our God. We prayed that he would give us a safe journey and protect us, our children, and our goods as we traveled.

那时，我在亚哈瓦河边宣告禁食，为要在我们神面前克苦己心，求他使我们和妇人孩子，并一切所有的，都得平坦的道路。

那时，我在亚哈瓦河边宣告禁食，为要在我们上帝面前刻苦己心，求他使我们和我们的孩子，以及一切所有的，都得平坦的道路。

那时，我在亚哈瓦河边宣告禁食，为要在我们神面前刻苦己心，求他使我们和我们的孩子，以及一切所有的，都得平坦的道路。

然后，我在亚哈瓦河边宣布禁食，为要在我们的上帝面前谦卑下来，祈求祂保护我们、我们的儿女及财物一路平安。

“那时，我在亚哈瓦河边那里宣告禁食，为要在我们的神面前谦卑下来，为自己和我们的孩子，以及我们所有的财物寻求神指示一条畅通的道路。

那時，我在亞哈瓦河邊宣告禁食，為要在我們神面前克苦己心，求他使我們和婦人孩子，並一切所有的，都得平坦的道路。

那時，我在亞哈瓦河邊宣告禁食，為要在我們上帝面前刻苦己心，求他使我們和我們的孩子，以及一切所有的，都得平坦的道路。

那時，我在亞哈瓦河邊宣告禁食，為要在我們神面前刻苦己心，求他使我們和我們的孩子，以及一切所有的，都得平坦的道路。

然後，我在亞哈瓦河邊宣佈禁食，為要在我們的上帝面前謙卑下來，祈求祂保護我們、我們的兒女及財物一路平安。

“那時，我在亞哈瓦河邊那裡宣告禁食，為要在我們的神面前謙卑下來，為自己和我們的孩子，以及我們所有的財物尋求神指示一條暢通的道路。

那時我在亞哈瓦河邊那裏宣告禁食，為要在我們的上帝面前刻苦自己，祈求他使我們和我們的小孩跟一切活財物都得了平坦的路。

時、我在亞哈瓦河濱、宣告禁食、在我上帝前自卑、求其使我及幼稚、與凡所有、俱得坦途、

我在亞哈瓦河濱、俾眾禁食、在我上帝前、痛自怨艾、望我儕及子女、與凡所有、俱得坦途。

我在亞哈瓦河濱、宣令禁食、使眾在我天主前、齋戒刻苦、祈求天主、使我儕及子女與凡所有、俱得坦途、

There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.

By the canal that flows toward Ahava, I announced a fast. I told the people not to eat any food. In that way, we made ourselves humble in God’s sight. We prayed that he would give us and our children a safe journey. We asked him to keep safe everything we owned.

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

I proclaimed a fast by the Ahava River, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us, our dependents, and all our possessions.

Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, to humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him a safe journey for us, our little ones, and all our possessions.

Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions.

Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek of him a straight way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.

I proclaimed a fast by the Ahava River, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask Him for a safe journey for us, our children, and all our possessions.

Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.

I called for a fast there by the Ahava Canal, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and seek from him a safe journey for us, our children, and all our property.

Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a straight way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our possessions.

Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the Lord for guidance. He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting.

So they gathered at Mizpah and, in a great ceremony, drew water from a well and poured it out before the Lord. They also went without food all day and confessed that they had sinned against the Lord.( It was at Mizpah that Samuel became Israel’s judge.)

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.

“ On the tenth day of the appointed month in early autumn, you must deny yourselves. Neither native born Israelites nor foreigners living among you may do any kind of work. This is a permanent law for you.

Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.Rescue me from my enemies, Lord; I run to you to hide me.Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.

Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say,“ This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.

All who do not deny themselves that day will be cut off from God’s people.

Lead me in the right path, O Lord, or my enemies will conquer me. Make your way plain for me to follow.

Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies.For he has gathered the exiles from many lands, from east and west, from north and south.Some wandered in the wilderness, lost and homeless.Hungry and thirsty, they nearly died.“ Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress.He led them straight to safety, to a city where they could live.Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them.

I assembled the exiles at the Ahava Canal, and we camped there for three days while I went over the lists of the people and the priests who had arrived. I found that not one Levite had volunteered to come along.

This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away— all who have been called by the Lord our God.”

I will lead blind Israel down a new path, guiding them along an unfamiliar way. I will brighten the darkness before them and smooth out the road ahead of them. Yes, I will indeed do these things; I will not forsake them.

We broke camp at the Ahava Canal on April 19 and started off to Jerusalem. And the gracious hand of our God protected us and saved us from enemies and bandits along the way.

‘ We have fasted before you!’ they say.‘ Why aren’t you impressed? We have been very hard on ourselves, and you don’t even notice it!’“ I will tell you why!” I respond.“ It’s because you are fasting to please yourselves. Even while you fast, you keep oppressing your workers.

You humble yourselves by going through the motions of penance, bowing your heads like reeds bending in the wind. You dress in burlap and cover yourselves with ashes. Is this what you call fasting? Do you really think this will please the Lord?

The people of Nineveh believed God’s message, and from the greatest to the least, they declared a fast and put on burlap to show their sorrow.

That is why the Lord says,“ Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.Who knows? Perhaps he will give you a reprieve, sending you a blessing instead of this curse. Perhaps you will be able to offer grain and wine to the Lord your God as before.Blow the ram’s horn in Jerusalem! Announce a time of fasting; call the people together for a solemn meeting.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.Let the priests, who minister in the Lord’s presence, stand and weep between the entry room to the Temple and the altar. Let them pray,“ Spare your people, Lord! Don’t let your special possession become an object of mockery. Don’t let them become a joke for unbelieving foreigners who say,‘ Has the God of Israel left them?’”Then the Lord will pity his people and jealously guard the honor of his land.

Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength, silencing your enemies and all who oppose you.

“ In those coming days,” says the Lord,“ the people of Israel will return home together with the people of Judah. They will come weeping and seeking the Lord their God.They will ask the way to Jerusalem and will start back home again. They will bind themselves to the Lord with an eternal covenant that will never be forgotten.

For I will bring them from the north and from the distant corners of the earth. I will not forget the blind and lame, the expectant mothers and women in labor. A great company will return!Tears of joy will stream down their faces, and I will lead them home with great care. They will walk beside quiet streams and on smooth paths where they will not stumble. For I am Israel’s father, and Ephraim is my oldest child.

One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them,“ Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children.I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.

I know, Lord, that our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course.

It will be a Sabbath day of complete rest for you, and you must deny yourselves. This is a permanent law for you.

“ Why is the Lord taking us to this country only to have us die in battle? Our wives and our little ones will be carried off as plunder! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?”

And a great road will go through that once deserted land. It will be named the Highway of Holiness. Evil minded people will never travel on it. It will be only for those who walk in God’s ways; fools will never walk there.

“‘ You said your children would be carried off as plunder. Well, I will bring them safely into the land, and they will enjoy what you have despised.

They will neither hunger nor thirst. The searing sun will not reach them anymore. For the Lord in his mercy will lead them; he will lead them beside cool waters.

Then all the Israelites went up to Bethel and wept in the presence of the Lord and fasted until evening. They also brought burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord.