(A)Is such the fast that I choose,
    (B)a day for a person to humble himself?
Is it to bow down his head like a reed,
    and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him?
Will you call this a fast,
    and a day acceptable to the Lord?

“Is not this the fast that I choose:
    (C)to loose the bonds of wickedness,
    to undo the straps (D)of the yoke,
to let the oppressed[a] go free,
    and to break every yoke?
Is it not (E)to share your bread with the hungry
    and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover him,
    (F)and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
(G)Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,
    (H)and your healing shall spring up speedily;
(I)your righteousness shall go before you;
    (J)the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
    you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’
If you take away (K)the yoke from your midst,
    (L)the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 58:6 Or bruised

Is this the kind of fast(A) I have chosen,
    only a day for people to humble(B) themselves?
Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed(C)
    and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?(D)
Is that what you call a fast,
    a day acceptable to the Lord?

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

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 58:8 Or your righteous One