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Is this not the fast which I choose,
To (A)loosen the bonds of wickedness,
To release the bands of [a]the yoke,
And to (B)let the oppressed go free
And (C)break every [b]yoke?
Is it not to (D)divide your bread [c]with the hungry
And (E)bring the afflicted homeless into the house;
When you see the (F)naked, you cover him;
And not to (G)hide yourself from your own flesh?
Then your (H)light will break out like the dawn,
And your (I)recovery will speedily spring forth;
And your (J)righteousness will go before you;
The glory of (K)Yahweh will be your rear guard.
Then you will (L)call, and Yahweh will answer;
You will cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’
If you (M)remove the [d]yoke from your midst,
The [e](N)pointing of the finger and (O)speaking wickedness,
10 And if you [f](P)offer your soul to the hungry
And satisfy the soul of the afflicted,
Then your (Q)light will rise in darkness
And your thick darkness will become like midday.
11 And (R)Yahweh will continually guide you,
And (S)satisfy your soul in scorched places,
And (T)fortify your bones;
And you will be like a (U)watered garden,
And like a (V)spring of water whose waters do not [g]fail.
12 Those from among you will (W)rebuild the ancient waste places;
You will (X)raise up the foundations of past generation upon generation;
And you will be called the repairer of the (Y)breach,
The restorer of the paths for one to inhabit.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 58:6 Lit the bar of the yoke
  2. Isaiah 58:6 Lit the bar of the yoke
  3. Isaiah 58:7 Lit for
  4. Isaiah 58:9 Lit bar of the yoke
  5. Isaiah 58:9 Lit sending out
  6. Isaiah 58:10 Lit furnish
  7. Isaiah 58:11 Or deceive

“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