Isaiah 58:3-9

Christian Standard Bible

³ “Why have we fasted, but you have not seen?^(A)
We have denied ourselves, but you haven’t noticed!” ^[a]

“Look, you do as you please on the day of your fast,
and oppress all your workers.^(B)
4 You fast with contention and strife
to strike viciously with your fist.
You cannot fast as you do today,
hoping to make your voice heard on high.
⁵ Will the fast I choose be like this:
A day for a person to deny himself,
to bow his head like a reed,
and to spread out sackcloth and ashes?^(C)
Will you call this a fast
and a day acceptable to the Lord?
⁶ Isn’t this the fast I choose:
To break the chains of wickedness,^(D)
to untie the ropes of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free,
and to tear off every yoke?^(E)
7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,^(F)
to bring the poor and homeless into your house,
to clothe the naked when you see him,^(G)
and not to ignore your own flesh and blood?^[b](H)
8 Then your light will appear like the dawn,
and your recovery will come quickly.^(I)
Your righteousness will go before you,^(J)
and the Lord’s glory will be your rear guard.^(K)

⁹ At that time, when you call, the Lord will answer;^(L)
when you cry out, he will say, ‘Here I am.’
If you get rid of the yoke among you,
the finger-pointing and malicious speaking,^(M)