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

I also made sackcloth my clothing, and I became a byword to them.

Have I not wept for him who had a hard day? Has not my soul grieved for the needy?

But I say to you, Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who abuse you and persecute you,

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

This shall be a perpetual statute for you: In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and do no work, whether a native or a stranger who sojourns among you.

It is a sabbath observance of rest for you, and you shall afflict your souls. It is a perpetual statute.

So it was, when Ahab heard those words, that he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his flesh, and fasted and lay in sackcloth, and walked about softly.

Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring about the evil in his days; but in the days of his son I will bring about the evil upon his house.

They say, Why have we fasted, and You do not see? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice? Behold, in the day of your fast you devise pleasures, and oppress all your laborers.

Is it such a fast that I have chosen? A day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast and a day pleasing to Jehovah?

Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?

And Jesus said to them, Can the sons of the bridechamber mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

If the house is truly worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.

And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you.