⁴ Hear this, you who trample the needy
    and do away with the poor^(A) of the land,^(B)

“When will the New Moon^(C) be over
    that we may sell grain,
and the Sabbath be ended
    that we may market^(D) wheat?”^(E)—
skimping on the measure,
    boosting the price
    and cheating^(F) with dishonest scales,^(G)
6 buying the poor^(H) with silver
    and the needy for a pair of sandals,
    selling even the sweepings with the wheat.^(I)

¹³ Stop bringing meaningless offerings!^(A)
    Your incense^(B) is detestable^(C) to me.
New Moons,^(D) Sabbaths and convocations^(E)—
    I cannot bear your worthless assemblies.
¹⁴ Your New Moon^(F) feasts and your appointed festivals^(G)
    I hate with all my being.^(H)
They have become a burden to me;^(I)
    I am weary^(J) of bearing them.
¹⁵ When you spread out your hands^(K) in prayer,
    I hide^(L) my eyes from you;
even when you offer many prayers,
    I am not listening.^(M)

Your hands^(N) are full of blood!^(O)

¹⁶ Wash^(P) and make yourselves clean.
    Take your evil deeds out of my sight;^(Q)
    stop doing wrong.^(R)
17 Learn to do right;^(S) seek justice.^(T)
    Defend the oppressed.^[a](U)
Take up the cause of the fatherless;^(V)
    plead the case of the widow.^(W)

“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.

¹³ “If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath^(AT)
    and from doing as you please on my holy day,
if you call the Sabbath a delight^(AU)
    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,^(AV)
14 then you will find your joy^(AW) in the Lord,
    and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights^(AX) of the land
    and to feast on the inheritance^(AY) of your father Jacob.”
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.^(AZ)