“Is not this the fast that I choose:
    (A)to loose the bonds of wickedness,
    to undo the straps (B)of the yoke,
to let the oppressed[a] go free,
    and to break every yoke?
Is it not (C)to share your bread with the hungry
    and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover him,
    (D)and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
(E)Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,
    (F)and your healing shall spring up speedily;
(G)your righteousness shall go before you;
    (H)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 (I)the yoke from your midst,
    (J)the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
10 (K)if you pour yourself out for the hungry
    and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
(L)then shall your light rise in the darkness
    and your gloom be as the noonday.
11 And the Lord will guide you continually
    and satisfy your desire in scorched places
    and make your bones strong;
and you shall be (M)like a watered garden,
    like a spring of water,
    whose waters do not fail.
12 (N)And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;
    you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
you shall be called the repairer of the breach,
    the restorer of streets to dwell in.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 58:6 Or bruised

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

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 58:8 Or your righteous One