Isaiah 58:3-14

New International Version

³‘Why have we fasted,’^(A) they say,
‘and you have not seen it?
Why have we humbled^(B) ourselves,
and you have not noticed?’^(C)

“Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please^(D)
    and exploit all your workers.
⁴Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,^(E)
    and in striking each other with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today
    and expect your voice to be heard^(F) on high.
⁵Is this the kind of fast^(G) I have chosen,
    only a day for people to humble^(H) themselves?
Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed^(I)
    and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?^(J)
Is that what you call a fast,
    a day acceptable to the Lord?

⁶“Is not this the kind of fasting^(K) I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice^(L)
    and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed^(M) free
    and break every yoke?^(N)
⁷Is it not to share your food with the hungry^(O)
    and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter^(P)—
when you see the naked, to clothe^(Q) them,
    and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?^(R)
⁸Then your light will break forth like the dawn,^(S)
    and your healing^(T) will quickly appear;
then your righteousness^[a]^(U) will go before you,
    and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.^(V)
⁹Then you will call,^(W) and the Lord will answer;^(X)
    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^(Y) and malicious talk,^(Z)
¹⁰and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
    and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,^(AA)
then your light^(AB) will rise in the darkness,
    and your night will become like the noonday.^(AC)
¹¹The Lord will guide^(AD) you always;
    he will satisfy your needs^(AE) in a sun-scorched land^(AF)
    and will strengthen^(AG) your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,^(AH)
    like a spring^(AI) whose waters never fail.
¹²Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins^(AJ)
    and will raise up the age-old foundations;^(AK)
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,^(AL)
    Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

¹³“If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath^(AM)
    and from doing as you please on my holy day,
if you call the Sabbath a delight^(AN)
    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,^(AO)
¹⁴then you will find your joy^(AP) in the Lord,
    and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights^(AQ) of the land
    and to feast on the inheritance^(AR) of your father Jacob.”
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.^(AS)