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.

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.

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.

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.

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 alarmed. So he decided to ask the Lord for advice. He told all the people of Judah to go without eating.

When the people had come together at Mizpah, they went to the well and got water. They poured it out in front of the Lord. On that day they didn’t eat any food. They admitted they had sinned. They said,“ We’ve sinned against the Lord.” Samuel was serving as the leader of Israel at Mizpah.

Announce a holy fast. Tell the people not to eat anything. Gather them together for a special service. Send for the elders and all who live in the land. Have them come to the house of the Lord your God. And pray to him.

“ Here is a law for you that will last for all time to come. On the tenth day of the seventh month you must not eat anything. You must not do any work. It does not matter whether you are Israelites or outsiders.

In the morning let me hear about your faithful love, because I’ve put my trust in you. Show me the way I should live, because I trust you with my life.Lord, save me from my enemies, because I go to you for safety.Teach me to do what you want, because you are my God. May your good Spirit lead me on a level path.

You will hear your Teacher’s voice behind you. You will hear it whether you turn to the right or the left. It will say,“ Here is the path I want you to take. So walk on it.”

Suppose you do eat food on that day. Then you will be separated from your people.

Lord, I have many enemies. Lead me in your right path. Make your way smooth and straight for me.

Let those who have been set free by the Lord tell their story. He set them free from the power of the enemy.He brought them back from other lands. He brought them back from east and west, from north and south.Some of them wandered in deserts that were dry and empty. They couldn’t find a city where they could make their homes.They were hungry and thirsty. Their lives were slipping away.Then they cried out to the Lord because of their problems. And he saved them from their troubles.He led them straight to a city where they could make their homes.Let them give thanks to the Lord for his faithful love. Let them give thanks for the wonderful things he does for people.

I gathered the people together at the canal that flows toward Ahava. We camped there for three days. I looked for Levites among the people and priests. But I didn’t find any.

The promise is for you and your children. It is also for all who are far away. It is for all whom the Lord our God will choose.”

Israel is blind. So I will lead them along paths they had not known before. I will guide them on roads they are not familiar with. I will turn the darkness into light as they travel. I will make the rough places smooth. Those are the things I will do. I will not desert my people.

On the 12th day of the first month we started out. We left the canal that flows toward Ahava. And we headed for Jerusalem. Our God helped us. He kept us safe from enemies and robbers along the way.

‘ We have gone without food,’ they say.‘ Why haven’t you noticed it? We have made ourselves suffer. Why haven’t you paid any attention to us?’“ On the day when you fast, you do as you please. You take advantage of all your workers.

Do you think that is the way I want you to fast? Is it only a time for people to make themselves suffer? Is it only for people to bow their heads like tall grass bent by the wind? Is it only for people to lie down in ashes and clothes of mourning? Is that what you call a fast? Do you think I can accept that?

The people of Nineveh believed God’s warning. So they decided not to eat any food for a while. And all of them put on the rough clothing people wear when they’re sad. That’s what everyone did, from the least important of them to the most important.

The Lord announces to his people,“ Return to me with all your heart. There is still time. Do not eat any food. Weep and mourn.”Don’t just tear your clothes to show how sad you are. Let your hearts be broken. Return to the Lord your God. He is gracious. He is tender and kind. He is slow to get angry. He is full of love. He won’t bring his judgment. He won’t destroy you.Who knows? He might turn toward you and not bring his judgment. He might even give you his blessing. Then you can bring grain offerings and drink offerings to the Lord your God.Priests, blow the trumpets in Zion. Announce a holy fast. Tell the people not to eat anything. Gather them together for a special service.Bring them together. Set all of them apart to me. Bring together the elders. Gather the children and the babies who are still nursing. Let the groom leave his bedroom. Let the bride leave their marriage bed.Let the priests who serve the Lord weep. Let them cry between the temple porch and the altar. Let them say,“ Lord, spare your people. Don’t let others make fun of them. Don’t let the nations laugh at them. Don’t let them tease your people and say,‘ Where is their God?’ ”Then the Lord was concerned for his land. He took pity on his people.

In all your ways obey him. Then he will make your paths smooth and straight.

You have made sure that children and infants praise you. Their praise is a wall that stops the talk of your enemies.

“ The days are coming,” announces the Lord.“ At that time the people of Israel and Judah will gather together. They will come in tears to me. I am the Lord their God.They will ask how to get to Zion. Then they will turn their faces toward it. They will come and join themselves to me. They will enter into the covenant I make with them. It will last forever. It will never be forgotten.

I will bring them from the land of the north. I will gather them from one end of the earth to the other. Even those who are blind and those who can’t walk will be among them. Pregnant women and women having their babies will be among them also. Many of them will return.Their eyes will be filled with tears as they come. They will pray as I bring them back. I will lead them beside streams of water. I will lead them on a level path where they will not trip or fall. I am Israel’s father. And Ephraim is my oldest son.

People were bringing little children to Jesus. They wanted him to place his hands on them to bless them. But the disciples told them to stop.When Jesus saw this, he was angry. He said to his disciples,“ Let the little children come to me. Don’t keep them away. God’s kingdom belongs to people like them.What I’m about to tell you is true. Anyone who will not receive God’s kingdom like a little child will never enter it.”Then he took the children in his arms. He placed his hands on them to bless them.

Lord, I know that a person doesn’t control their own life. They don’t direct their own steps.

That day is a sabbath for you. You must rest on it. You must not eat anything on that day. This is a law that will last for all time to come.

Why is the Lord bringing us to this land? We’re going to be killed by swords. Our enemies will capture our wives and children. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?”

A wide road will go through the land. It will be called the Way of Holiness. Only those who lead a holy life can use it.“ Unclean” and foolish people can’t walk on it.

You have said that your enemies would capture your children. But I will bring your children in to enjoy the land you have turned your backs on.

They will not get hungry or thirsty. The heat from the desert sun will not beat down on them. The God who has tender love for them will guide them. Like a shepherd, he will lead them beside springs of water.

Then all the Israelites, the whole army, went up to Bethel. They sat there and wept in front of the Lord. They didn’t eat anything that day until evening. Then they brought burnt offerings and friendship offerings to the Lord.