And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bride-chamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.
The LORD begins today giving the meaning in the above: the sign of His presence, joining us, and the enemies are (proverbially) hanged on the gallows they built for God’s people. It reveals the word “fast” to actually tell of a face covering, like a bride’s veil, only removed when the bridegroom is present.
It also alludes to God’s people only speaking when He is present, meaning He is joined with us and we’ve become the mouth of God. Anything else, all other words, are men speaking their own ideas and ways, as false prophets claiming He’s with them when He is not.
Deuteronomy 8
1 All the commandments which I command you this day shall you observe to do, that you may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD swore unto your fathers.
2 And you shall remember all the way which the LORD your God led you these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you, and to prove you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments, or no.
3 And he humbled you, and suffered you to hunger, and fed you with manna, which you knew not, neither did your fathers know; that he might make you know that man does not live by bread only, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD does man live.
4 Your raiment waxed not old upon you, neither did your foot swell, these forty years [when you unlearned the ways of oppression {Egypt}, and learned the ways of peace flowing from the mouth of God {Jerusalem}].
5 You shall also consider in your heart, that, as a man chastens his son, so the LORD your God chastens you.
6 Therefore you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him.
The word “fast” is from the word nesteuo, meaning “from 3523; to abstain from food (religiously).” It’s from the word nestis (G3523), meaning “from the inseparable negative particle ne- (not) and 2068; not eating, i.e. abstinent from food (religiously).” The word (G2068) origin of the “eating” aspect is the Greek word esthio, a word appearing twice in Mark 2:16 as the religious are questioning the LORD about why He is “eating” with (speaking the word of God to) republicans and sinners. This is the backdrop to His, later in verse 19, the title verse, telling of why His children speak His (the Father’s) word only while He is with(in) them.
John 14
15 If you love me, keep my commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter [Parakletos], that he may abide with you forever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees him not, neither knows him: but you know him; for he dwells with you, and shall be in you.
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
19 Yet a little while, and the world sees me no more; but you see me: because I live, you shall live also.
20 At that day you shall know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.
21 He that has my commandments, and keep them, he it is that loves me: and he that loves me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
22 Judas said unto him, not Iscariot, LORD, how is it that you will manifest yourself unto us, and not unto the world?
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
24 He that loves me not keeps not my sayings: and the word which you hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
26 But the Comforter [Parakletos], which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
28 You have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If you loved me, you would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, you might believe.
Mark 2
4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, your sins be forgiven you.
6 But there was certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,
7 Why does this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?
8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason you these things in your hearts?
9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Your sins be forgiven you; or to say, Arise, and take up your bed, and walk?
10 But that you may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins, (he said to the sick of the palsy,)
11 I say unto you, Arise, and take up your bed, and go your way into your house.
12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.
13 And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them.
14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi [joined {to Him – the priesthood}] the son of Alphaeus [changing {by understanding}] sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose [anistemi – meaning awaken and rise from the dead] and followed him.
15 And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.
16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat [esthio] with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eats [esthio] and drinks with publicans and sinners?
17 When Jesus heard it, he said unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
18 And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast [nesteuo]: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast [nesteuo], but your disciples fast [nesteuo] not?
19 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bride-chamber fast [nesteuo], while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast [nesteuo].
20 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast [nesteuo] in those days.
21 No man also sews a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse.
22 And no man puts new wine into old bottles: else the new wine [these waters newly turned wine] does burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles [the republicans and sinners].
This facet, eating the words from God’s mouth and then speaking the same word as His mouth, is seen from a different perspective in Matthew 15:32 & Mark 8:3, the only two appearances of nestis. In both, it is the LORD telling of his not sending the crowd away “fasting.”
Matthew 15
32 Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting [nestis], lest they faint in the way.
33 And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?
34 And Jesus said unto them, How many loaves [the bread of heaven, words, the expansion {as in the firmament} from the mouth of God] have you? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes [life below the surface of the water, that must be grasped and eaten].
35 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.
36 And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them [rightly divided the waters above, the unknown manna, from the words of man], and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
37 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.
38 And they that did eat [esthio] were four thousand men, beside women and children.
39 And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala [the watchtower – to see what is coming in the distance].
Matthew 16
1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came [the modern religious leaders whose word blind and deaden God’s people], and tempting desired him that he would show them a sign from heaven.
2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, you say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather today: for the sky is red and lowering. O you hypocrites, you can discern the face [presence] of the sky; but can you not discern [God’s presence] the signs of the times?
4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah [the incorrigibly religious are unable to see because of the leaven they’ve added to God’s word, which also causes them to refuse His correction]. And he left them, and departed.
5 And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.
6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees [the corruption they’ve added to the bread].
7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.
8 Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O you of little faith, why reason you among yourselves, because you have brought no bread?
9 Do you not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets you took up?
10 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets you took up?
11 How is it that you do not understand that I spoke it not to you concerning bread, that you should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?
12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
14 And they said, Some say that you are John the Baptist: some, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.
15 He said unto them, But whom say you that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed are you, Simon Barjona [the first out the belly of hell]: for flesh and blood has not revealed it unto you, but my Father which is in heaven.
18 And I say also unto you, That you are Peter, and upon this rock [understand Christ as the Rock flowing God’s word to those who would themselves become rocks – see Romans 8:29 below] will build my church; and the gates of hell [the oppositions of men] shall not prevail against it.
19 And I will give unto you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
21 From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from you, LORD: this shall not be unto you.
23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get you behind me, Satan: you are an offense unto me: for you savor not [the words in your mouth are not the words of God, and therefore opposing Him you are speaking the words of the resister: Satan] the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself [it is Christ; God’s glory, His presence in and through me working and speaking – and the world will crucify anyone confessing this], and take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
28 Truly I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
Romans 8
27 And he that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called [kletos] according to his purpose.
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifies.
34 Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For your sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our LORD.
The word “fast” in Hebrew is the word tsuwm, meaning “to cover over (the mouth), i.e. to fast.”
The word leads us to the book of Esther, when Haman’s mouth was “covered,” meaning the words he was speaking against God’s people, who he secretly plotted to destroy, were stopped. The word “covered” is chaphah, meaning “to cover; by implication, to veil, to encase, protect.” It’s used in Esther 6:12 telling of him “covering” his head, in shame, when the end he reached wasn’t what he expected, and later in Esther 7:8 as His mouth is “covered” as his plot was exposed and the king sentenced him (the picture is kind of like the Super Bowl halftime show, and the strange dancers who not only covered their mouth but their heads also).
What set the stage for his exposure, and covering his head and mouth (ideas and words of destruction by false accusation) is recorded earlier, in Esther 4:16 where tsuwm is twice used. This is when Esther was informed by Mordecai (who is actually Daniel) of Haman’s plot, and advised her she had to tell the king. Because of the danger involved, she was reluctant and asked all God’s people to “fast,” as she and her maidens would, for three days, and neither eat nor drink. It is telling of no longer speaking their own words, and neither eating or drinking any other’s advice (other than Daniel’s). As we know, she took the advice of Mordecai, her moth was opened exposing and shutting the mouth of the destroyers, who were then sentenced by the king to be hanged on the gallows they built for Mordecai.
Esther 4
9 And Hatach [truth] came and told Esther [the star – the light in the darkness when all else is darkened] the words of Mordecai [the last who will be first].
10 Again Esther spoke unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai;
11 All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or women, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called [you are called – by the Parakletos], there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden scepter, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.
12 And they told to Mordecai Esther’s words.
13 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with yourself that you shall escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews.
14 For if you altogether hold your peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but you and your father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knows whether you are come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
15 Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,
16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan [the last trumpet], and fast [tsuwm] you for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast [tsuwm] likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
17 So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.
Esther 5
1 Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, over against the king’s house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.
2 And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favor in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the scepter.
3 Then said the king unto her, What will you, queen Esther? and what is your request? it shall be even given you to the half of the kingdom.
4 And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, LET THE KING AND HAMAN COME [as Esther speaks these words, the words God advised through Mordecai, there is written a well know acrostic spelling the name JEHOVAH] this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him.
5 Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther has said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
6 And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is your petition? and it shall be granted you: and what is your request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.
7 Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is;
8 If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as the king has said.
9 Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai.
10 Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh [gold – who he is married to and joined with] his wife.
11 And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.
12 Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and tomorrow am I invited unto her also with the king.
13 Yet all THIS AVAILS ME NOTHING [and other acrostic spelling JEHOVAH, in telling of His hidden plan], so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.
14 Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and tomorrow speak you unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go you in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.
The acrostics above are the second and third of four that appear in Esther giving the LORD’s name. Other than these acrostics, the LORD’s name doesn’t appear anywhere in the book of Esther. The first is, in Esther 1:20, rendered, “ALL WIVES SHALL GIVE” to their husbands honor, both great and small. The fourth is in Esther 7:7 below, a chapter where, in verse 5, a fifth acrostic appears, rendered “WHO IS HE, AND WHERE IS HE,” spelling the Divine Name, I AM. Between these last two, the LORD, through Esther, says, “The adversary and the enemy is this wicked Haman.”
Esther 6
1 On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.
2 And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.
3 And the king said, What honor and dignity has been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.
4 And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king’s house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
5 And the king’s servants said unto him, Behold, Haman stands in the court. And the king said, Let him come in.
6 So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delights to honor? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honor more than to myself?
7 And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delights to honor,
8 Let the royal apparel be brought which the king use to wear, and the horse that the king rides upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head:
9 And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delights to honor, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.
10 Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as you have said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sits at the king’s gate: let nothing fail of all that you have spoken.
11 Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delights to honor.
12 And Mordecai came again to the king’s gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered [chaphah].
13 And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom you have begun to fall, you shall not prevail against him, but shall surely fall before him.
14 And while they were yet talking with him, came the king’s chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared.
Esther 7
1 So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen.
2 And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is your petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted you: and what is your request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom.
3 Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:
4 For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king’s damage.
5 Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, WHO IS HE, AND WHERE IS HE [spelling I AM, and saying it’s the LORD’s presence exposing him this way], that does presume in his heart to do so?
6 And Esther said, “The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman.” Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.
7 And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw THAT THERE WAS EVIL DETERMINED AGAINST HIM [spelling JEHOVAH and telling it is His plan] by the king.
8 Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of king’s mouth, they covered [chaphah] Haman’s face.
9 And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who spoken good for the king, stand in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon.
10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king’s wrath pacified.
Jeremiah 14
1 The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the dearth.
2 Judah mourns, and the gates thereof languish; they are black unto the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up.
3 And their nobles have sent their little ones to the waters: they came to the pits, and found no water; they returned with their vessels empty; they were ashamed and confounded, and covered [chaphah] their heads.
4 Because the ground is chapt, for there was no rain in the earth, the plowmen were ashamed, they covered [chaphah] their heads.
5 Yea, the hind also calved in the field, and forsook it, because there was no grass.
6 And the wild asses did stand in the high places, they snuffed up the wind like dragons; their eyes did fail, because there was no grass.
7 O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do you it for your name’s sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against you.
8 O the hope of Israel, the savior thereof in time of trouble, why should you be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turned aside to tarry for a night?
9 Why should you be as a man astonished, as a mighty man that cannot save? yet you, O LORD, are in the midst of us, and we are called by your name; leave us not.
10 Thus says the LORD unto this people, Thus have they loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet, therefore the LORD does not accept them; he will now remember their iniquity, and visit their sins.
11 Then said the LORD unto me, Pray not for this people for their good.
12 When they fast [tsuwm – when they cover their mouths with masks {along with covering their heads in shame} and refuse to speak the word I put in their mouth for their good], I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence.
13 Then said I, Ah, LORD God! behold, the prophets say unto them, You shall not see the sword, neither shall you have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place.
14 Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spoke unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of naught, and the deceit of their heart.
15 Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the prophets that prophesy in my name, and I sent them not, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land; By sword [this word unheeded] and famine [for hearing this word of God] shall those prophets be consumed.
16 And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; and they shall have none to bury them, them, their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters: for I will pour their wickedness upon them.
17 Therefore you shall say this word unto them; Let mine eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease: for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow.
18 If I go forth into the field, then behold the slain with the sword! and if I enter into the city, then behold them that are sick with famine! yea, both the prophet and the priest go about into a land that they know not.
19 Have you utterly rejected Judah? has your soul loathed Zion? why have you smitten us, and there is no healing for us? we looked for peace, and there is no good; and for the time of healing, and behold trouble!
20 We acknowledge, O LORD, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers: for we have sinned against you.
21 Do not abhor us, for your name’s sake, do not disgrace the throne of your glory: remember, break not your covenant with us.
22 Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? are not you he, O LORD our God? therefore we will wait upon you: for you have made all these things.
Isaiah 58
1 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up your voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.
2 Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.
3 Wherefore have we fasted [tsuwm], say they, and you see not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and you take no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast [tsowm] you find pleasure, and exact all your labors.
4 Behold, you fast [tsuwm] for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: you shall not fast [tsuwm] as you do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.
5 Is it such a fast [tsowm] that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? will you call this a fast [tsowm], and an acceptable day to the LORD?
6 Is not this the fast [tsowm] that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?
7 Is it not to deal your bread [this word of God though you] to the hungry, and that you bring the poor that are cast out to your house? when you see the naked, that you cover him; and that you hide not yourself from your own flesh?
8 Then shall your light [understanding] break forth as the morning, and your health shall spring forth speedily: and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your reward.
9 Then shall you call, and the LORD shall answer; you shall cry, and he shall say, Here I AM. If you take away from the midst of you the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;
10 And if you draw out your soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall your light rise in obscurity, and your darkness be as the noon day:
11 And the LORD shall guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and make fat your bones: and you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
12 And they that shall be of you shall build the old waste places: you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.
Psalms 8
1 O LORD, our LORD, how excellent is your name in all the earth! who has set your glory above the heavens.
2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings have you ordained strength because of your enemies, that you might still [shabath – interrupt and correct] the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained;
4 What is man, that you are mindful of him? and the son of man, that you visit him?
5 For you have made him a little lower than the angels, and have crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You made him to have dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet:
7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passes through the paths of the seas.
9 O LORD our LORD, how excellent is your name in all the earth!
