Isaiah 57:15-58:9

New International Version

¹⁵For this is what the high and exalted^(A) One says—
    he who lives forever,^(B) whose name is holy:
“I live in a high^(C) and holy place,
    but also with the one who is contrite^(D) and lowly in spirit,^(E)
to revive the spirit of the lowly
    and to revive the heart of the contrite.^(F)
¹⁶I will not accuse^(G) them forever,
    nor will I always be angry,^(H)
for then they would faint away because of me—
    the very people^(I) I have created.
¹⁷I was enraged by their sinful greed;^(J)
    I punished them, and hid^(K) my face in anger,
    yet they kept on in their willful ways.^(L)
¹⁸I have seen their ways, but I will heal^(M) them;
    I will guide^(N) them and restore comfort^(O) to Israel’s mourners,
¹⁹    creating praise on their lips.^(P)
Peace, peace,^(Q) to those far and near,”^(R)
    says the Lord. “And I will heal them.”
²⁰But the wicked^(S) are like the tossing sea,^(T)
    which cannot rest,
    whose waves cast up mire^(U) and mud.
²¹“There is no peace,”^(V) says my God, “for the wicked.”^(W)

True Fasting

58 “Shout it aloud,^(X) do not hold back.
    Raise your voice like a trumpet.^(Y)
Declare to my people their rebellion^(Z)
    and to the descendants of Jacob their sins.^(AA)
²For day after day they seek^(AB) me out;
    they seem eager to know my ways,
as if they were a nation that does what is right
    and has not forsaken^(AC) the commands of its God.
They ask me for just decisions
    and seem eager for God to come near^(AD) them.
³‘Why have we fasted,’^(AE) they say,
    ‘and you have not seen it?
Why have we humbled^(AF) ourselves,
    and you have not noticed?’^(AG)

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

⁶“Is not this the kind of fasting^(AO) I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice^(AP)
    and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed^(AQ) free
    and break every yoke?^(AR)
⁷Is it not to share your food with the hungry^(AS)
    and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter^(AT)—
when you see the naked, to clothe^(AU) them,
    and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?^(AV)
⁸Then your light will break forth like the dawn,^(AW)
    and your healing^(AX) will quickly appear;
then your righteousness^[a]^(AY) will go before you,
    and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.^(AZ)
⁹Then you will call,^(BA) and the Lord will answer;^(BB)
    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^(BC) and malicious talk,^(BD)

Footnotes

Isaiah 58:8 Or your righteous One

Isaiah 59:21

New International Version

²¹“As for me, this is my covenant^(A) with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit,^(B) who is on you, will not depart from you,^(C) and my words that I have put in your mouth^(D) will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants—from this time on and forever,” says the Lord.