“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.

13 (O)“If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath,
    from doing your pleasure[b] on my holy day,
and call the Sabbath a delight
    and the holy day of the Lord honorable;
if you honor it, not going your own ways,
    or seeking (P)your own pleasure,[c] or talking idly;[d]
14 then you shall take delight in the Lord,
    (Q)and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth;[e]
(R)I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father,
    (S)for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 58:6 Or bruised
  2. Isaiah 58:13 Or business
  3. Isaiah 58:13 Or pursuing your own business
  4. Isaiah 58:13 Hebrew or speaking a word
  5. Isaiah 58:14 Or of the land

“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.

13 “If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath(AC)
    and from doing as you please on my holy day,
if you call the Sabbath a delight(AD)
    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,(AE)
14 then you will find your joy(AF) in the Lord,
    and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights(AG) of the land
    and to feast on the inheritance(AH) of your father Jacob.”
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.(AI)

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 58:8 Or your righteous One