Ahab said to Obadiah, "Let us go and look at every spring and every stream bed in the land to see if we can find enough grass to keep the horses and mules alive. Maybe we won't have to kill any of our animals."

They agreed on which part of the land each one would explore, and set off in different directions.

for my people have committed two sins: they have turned away from me, the spring of fresh water, and they have dug cisterns, cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all.

After a while the brook dried up because of the lack of rain.

Don't listen to Hezekiah. The emperor of Assyria commands you to come out of the city and surrender. You will all be allowed to eat grapes from your own vines and figs from your own trees, and to drink water from your own wells---

Even the wild animals cry out to you because the streams have become dry.

Weak with thirst, the people of several cities went to a city where they hoped to find water, but there was not enough to drink. Still you did not come back to me.

The LORD says, "Just as a thief is disgraced when caught, so all you people of Israel will be disgraced---your kings and officials, your priests and prophets.

You will all be disgraced---you that say that a tree is your father and that a rock is your mother. This will happen because you turned away from me instead of turning to me. But when you are in trouble, you ask me to come and save you.

But you, LORD, are on my side, strong and mighty, and those who persecute me will fail. They will be disgraced forever, because they cannot succeed. Their disgrace will never be forgotten.

May those who try to kill me be completely defeated and confused. May those who are happy because of my troubles be turned back and disgraced.

May my enemies be covered with disgrace; may they wear their shame like a robe.

Those who make idols will all be ashamed; all of them will be disgraced.

But Israel is saved by the LORD, and her victory lasts forever; her people will never be disgraced.' "

Because there is no rain and the ground is dried up, the farmers are sick at heart; they hide their faces.

David went on up the Mount of Olives crying; he was barefoot and had his head covered as a sign of grief. All who followed him covered their heads and cried also.

The king covered his face and cried loudly, "O my son! My son Absalom! Absalom, my son!"

Mordecai then went back to the palace entrance while Haman hurried home, covering his face in embarrassment.