(SEE 23:26)

Any who eat anything on that day will no longer be considered God's people.

This regulation applies to all your descendants, no matter where they live.

Once a year Aaron is to perform the ritual for purifying the altar by putting on its four projections the blood of the animal sacrificed for sin. This is to be done every year for all time to come. This altar is to be completely holy, dedicated to me, the LORD."

Gather for worship on the tenth day of the seventh month; eat no food and do no work.

They all assembled during the Festival of Shelters in the seventh month, in the month of Ethanim.

By the seventh month the people of Israel were all settled in their towns. Then they all assembled in Jerusalem,

But when they were sick, I dressed in mourning; I deprived myself of food; I prayed with my head bowed low,

I humble myself by fasting, and people insult me;

The people ask, "Why should we fast if the LORD never notices? Why should we go without food if he pays no attention?" The LORD says to them, "The truth is that at the same time you fast, you pursue your own interests and oppress your workers.

When you fast, you make yourselves suffer; you bow your heads low like a blade of grass and spread out sackcloth and ashes to lie on. Is that what you call fasting? Do you think I will be pleased with that?

I did not eat any rich food or any meat, drink any wine, or comb my hair until the three weeks were past.

Then he said, "Daniel, don't be afraid. God has heard your prayers ever since the first day you decided to humble yourself in order to gain understanding. I have come in answer to your prayer.

If we would examine ourselves first, we would not come under God's judgment.

For the sadness that is used by God brings a change of heart that leads to salvation---and there is no regret in that! But sadness that is merely human causes death.

See what God did with this sadness of yours: how earnest it has made you, how eager to prove your innocence! Such indignation, such alarm, such feelings, such devotion, such readiness to punish wrongdoing! You have shown yourselves to be without fault in the whole matter.

You have six days in which to do your work, but remember that the seventh day, the Sabbath, is a day of rest. On that day do not work, but gather for worship. The Sabbath belongs to the LORD, no matter where you live.

On the first of these days you shall gather for worship and do none of your daily work.

Offer your food offerings to the LORD for seven days. On the seventh day you shall again gather for worship, but you shall do none of your daily work.

On that day do none of your daily work, but gather for worship. Your descendants are to observe this regulation for all time to come, no matter where they live.

Do no work on that day, because it is the day for performing the ritual to take away sin.

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.

On the first day and again on the seventh day you are to meet for worship. No work is to be done on those days, but you may prepare food.

but the seventh day is a day of rest dedicated to me. On that day no one is to work---neither you, your children, your slaves, your animals, nor the foreigners who live in your country.

The LORD says, "If you treat the Sabbath as sacred and do not pursue your own interests on that day; if you value my holy day and honor it by not traveling, working, or talking idly on that day,

For those who receive that rest which God promised will rest from their own work, just as God rested from his.