44
And the congregation assembled to be ready for battle, and to pray and ask for mercy and compassion.
45
Jerusalem was uninhabited like a wilderness; not one of her children went in or out. The sanctuary was trampled down, and the sons of aliens held the citadel; it was a lodging place for the Gentiles. Joy was taken from Jacob; the flute and the harp ceased to play.
46
So they assembled and went to Mizpah, opposite Jerusalem, because Israel formerly had a place of prayer in Mizpah.
47
They fasted that day, put on sackcloth and sprinkled ashes on their heads, and rent their clothes.
48
And they opened the book of the law to inquire into those matters about which the Gentiles were consulting the images of their idols.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.