Isaiah 58:4-11

New International Version

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

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