Let all who live in the land tremble,
    for the day of the Lord^(D) is coming.
It is close at hand^(E)—
²     a day of darkness^(F) and gloom,^(G)
    a day of clouds^(H) and blackness.^(I)
Like dawn spreading across the mountains
    a large and mighty army^(J) comes,
such as never was in ancient times^(K)
    nor ever will be in ages to come.

¹³ Rend your heart^(C)
    and not your garments.^(D)
Return^(E) to the Lord your God,
    for he is gracious and compassionate,^(F)
slow to anger and abounding in love,^(G)
    and he relents from sending calamity.^(H)
14 Who knows? He may turn^(I) and relent^(J)
    and leave behind a blessing^(K)—
grain offerings and drink offerings^(L)
    for the Lord your God.

¹⁵ Blow the trumpet^(M) in Zion,^(N)
    declare a holy fast,^(O)
    call a sacred assembly.^(P)
16 Gather the people,
    consecrate^(Q) the assembly;
bring together the elders,^(R)
    gather the children,
    those nursing at the breast.
Let the bridegroom^(S) leave his room
    and the bride her chamber.
¹⁷ Let the priests, who minister^(T) before the Lord,
    weep^(U) between the portico and the altar.^(V)
Let them say, “Spare your people, Lord.
    Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn,^(W)
    a byword^(X) among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
    ‘Where is their God?^(Y)’”

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

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

³ For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is always before me.^(I)
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned^(J)
    and done what is evil in your sight;^(K)
so you are right in your verdict
    and justified when you judge.^(L)
5 Surely I was sinful^(M) at birth,^(N)
    sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
⁶ Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
    you taught me wisdom^(O) in that secret place.^(P)

⁷ Cleanse^(Q) me with hyssop,^(R) and I will be clean;
    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.^(S)
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;^(T)
    let the bones^(U) you have crushed rejoice.
⁹ Hide your face from my sins^(V)
    and blot out^(W) all my iniquity.

¹⁰ Create in me a pure heart,^(X) O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.^(Y)
11 Do not cast me^(Z) from your presence^(AA)
    or take your Holy Spirit^(AB) from me.
¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation^(AC)
    and grant me a willing spirit,^(AD) to sustain me.^(AE)

¹³ Then I will teach transgressors your ways,^(AF)
    so that sinners^(AG) will turn back to you.^(AH)
14 Deliver me^(AI) from the guilt of bloodshed,^(AJ) O God,
    you who are God my Savior,^(AK)
    and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.^(AL)
15 Open my lips, Lord,^(AM)
    and my mouth will declare your praise.
¹⁶ You do not delight in sacrifice,^(AN) or I would bring it;
    you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
¹⁷ My sacrifice,^(AO) O God, is^[b] a broken spirit;
    a broken and contrite heart^(AP)
    you, God, will not despise.

“In the time of my favor I heard you,
    and in the day of salvation I helped you.”^[b](H)