When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting.

But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. … So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed. … I humbled myself with fasting. … I weep and fast.

I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. … Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord. … When they had assembled … on that day they fasted and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the LORD.”

“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend your heart and not your garments.” Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. … The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.”

Mt 6:16; Mt 6:17-18, Da 9:3-4, Ps 35:13, Ps 69:10; Er 8:21-23, Jl 1:14, 1Sa 7:6; Jl 2:12-13, Mt 9:14-15

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.