And he said, While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I thought, Who knows whether Jehovah will be gracious to me, that the child may live?

and call on Me in the day of trouble; and I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.

Jehovah, in trouble they have visited You; they have poured out a prayer when Your chastening was upon them.

Yet even now turn to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning, declares Jehovah.

Who knows if He will turn and have pity and leave a blessing behind Him, a food offering and a drink offering for Jehovah your God?

Who knows if God may turn, and have compassion, and turn away from His burning anger, that we not perish?

Go, gather all the Jews who are found in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go in to the king, which is against the law; and if I have perished, I have perished!

When I wept in my soul with fasting, it became my reproach.

And in that day Jehovah of Hosts called for weeping and mourning, and for baldness, and for girding with sackcloth.

And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

So the king arose and tore his garments and lay on the ground, and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.

Though evil is sweet in his mouth, and he hides it under his tongue,

yet his food in his stomach has churned up; it is serpent's venom within him.