Isn’t the fast I choose:
To break the chains of wickedness,(A)
to untie the ropes of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free,
and to tear off every yoke?(B)
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,(C)
to bring the poor and homeless into your house,
to clothe the naked when you see him,(D)
and not to ignore[a] your own flesh and blood?(E)
Then your light will appear like the dawn,
and your recovery will come quickly.(F)
Your righteousness will go before you,(G)
and the Lord’s glory will be your rear guard.(H)
At that time, when you call, the Lord will answer;(I)
when you cry out, He will say, ‘Here I am.’
If you get rid of the yoke among you,[b]
the finger-pointing and malicious speaking,(J)
10 and if you offer yourself[c] to the hungry,
and satisfy the afflicted one,
then your light will shine in the darkness,(K)
and your night will be like noonday.
11 The Lord will always lead you,
satisfy you in a parched land,
and strengthen your bones.
You will be like a watered garden(L)
and like a spring whose waters never run dry.(M)
12 Some of you will rebuild the ancient ruins;(N)
you will restore the foundations laid long ago;[d](O)
you will be called the repairer of broken walls,
the restorer of streets where people live.

13 “If you keep from desecrating[e] the Sabbath,(P)
from doing whatever you want on My holy day;
if you call the Sabbath a delight,
and the holy day of the Lord honorable;
if you honor it, not going your own ways,(Q)
seeking your own pleasure, or talking too much;[f]
14 then you will delight yourself in the Lord,(R)
and I will make you ride over the heights of the land,(S)
and let you enjoy the heritage of your father Jacob.”
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.(T)

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 58:7 Lit not hide yourself from
  2. Isaiah 58:9 Lit yoke from your midst
  3. Isaiah 58:10 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr read offer your bread
  4. Isaiah 58:12 Lit foundations generation and generation
  5. Isaiah 58:13 Lit keep your foot from
  6. Isaiah 58:13 Lit or speak a word

“Is not this the kind of fasting(A) I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice(B)
    and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed(C) free
    and break every yoke?(D)
Is it not to share your food with the hungry(E)
    and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter(F)
when you see the naked, to clothe(G) them,
    and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?(H)
Then your light will break forth like the dawn,(I)
    and your healing(J) will quickly appear;
then your righteousness[a](K) will go before you,
    and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.(L)
Then you will call,(M) and the Lord will answer;(N)
    you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
    with the pointing finger(O) and malicious talk,(P)
10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
    and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,(Q)
then your light(R) will rise in the darkness,
    and your night will become like the noonday.(S)
11 The Lord will guide(T) you always;
    he will satisfy your needs(U) in a sun-scorched land(V)
    and will strengthen(W) your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,(X)
    like a spring(Y) whose waters never fail.
12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins(Z)
    and will raise up the age-old foundations;(AA)
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,(AB)
    Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

13 “If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath(AC)
    and from doing as you please on my holy day,
if you call the Sabbath a delight(AD)
    and the Lord’s holy day honorable,
and if you honor it by not going your own way
    and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,(AE)
14 then you will find your joy(AF) in the Lord,
    and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights(AG) of the land
    and to feast on the inheritance(AH) of your father Jacob.”
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.(AI)

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 58:8 Or your righteous One