Blow the trumpet on Mount Zion; give orders for a fast and call an assembly!

Gather the people together; prepare them for a sacred meeting; bring the old people; gather the children and the babies too. Even newly married couples must leave their homes and come.

Jehoshaphat was frightened and prayed to the LORD for guidance. Then he gave orders for a fast to be observed throughout the country.

From every city of Judah people hurried to Jerusalem to ask the LORD for guidance,

Each day for seven days you shall present a food offering. On the eighth day come together again for worship and present a food offering. It is a day for worship, and you shall do no work.

From the first day of the festival to the last they read a part of God's Law every day. They celebrated for seven days, and on the eighth day there was a closing ceremony, as required in the Law.

"Today you are standing in the presence of the LORD your God, all of you---your leaders and officials, your men,

women, and children, and the foreigners who live among you and cut wood and carry water for you.

All the men of Judah, with their wives and children, were standing there at the Temple.

(SEE 9:1)

For about three hours the Law of the LORD their God was read to them, and for the next three hours they confessed their sins and worshiped the LORD their God.

All persons and animals must wear sackcloth. Everyone must pray earnestly to God and must give up their wicked behavior and their evil actions.