But the Lord says, “[^LLook; ^TBehold] You ·do what pleases [satisfy; seek pleasure for] yourselves on these fast days,
    and you ·are unfair to [exploit; oppress] your workers.
⁴ Even when you fast, you argue and fight
    and ·hit each other with your [^Lhit with wicked/sinful] fists.
You cannot do these things as you do now
    and ·believe your prayers are [expect to be] heard ·in heaven [on high].
⁵ ·This kind of special day is not what [Is this the fast that…?] I ·want [have chosen].
    ·This is not the way I want people to be sorry for what they have done [^LDo I want a day when people afflict/mortify themselves?].
I don’t want people just to bow their heads like a ·plant [reed]
    ·and wear rough cloth and lie in ashes to show their sadness [^Lstretching out on sackcloth and ashes].
Is this what you call a fast?
    ·Do you really think this pleases [^L…a day acceptable to] the Lord?

⁶ “I will tell you the kind of fast I ·want [have chosen]:
·Free the people you have put in prison unfairly [^LRelease the chains/bonds of wickedness]
    and ·undo their chains [or untie the ropes from the yoke].
Free ·those to whom you are unfair [the oppressed]
    and ·stop their hard labor [^Lbreak every yoke].
⁷ Share your food with the hungry
    and bring poor, homeless people into your own homes.
When you see someone who has no clothes, ·give him yours [clothe him],
    and don’t ·refuse to help [^Lconceal yourself from] your ·own relatives [flesh].
⁸ Then your light will shine like the dawn,
    and your wounds will quickly heal.
Your ·God [^Lrighteousness] will walk before you,
    and the glory of the Lord [^Chis manifest presence] will ·protect you from behind [be your rear guard].
⁹ Then you will call out, and the Lord will answer.
    You will cry out, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’

“If you ·stop making trouble for others [^Ltake away the yoke from your midst],
    if you stop ·using cruel words [speaking wickedness] and pointing your finger at others,
¹⁰ if you ·feed [^Loffer your soul/selves to] those who are hungry
    and ·take care of [satisfy] the needs of ·those who are troubled [the afflicted/oppressed],
then your light will ·shine [^Lrise] in the darkness,
    and ·you will be bright like sunshine at [^Lyour darkness/gloom like] noon.
¹¹ The Lord will always lead you.
    He will satisfy your ·needs [soul] in dry lands
    and give strength to your bones.
You will be like a garden that is well-watered,
    like a spring ·that never runs dry [whose waters never fail].
¹² Your people will rebuild the ·old cities that are now in [^Lancient] ruins;
    you will rebuild their ancient foundations.
You will be ·known for repairing [called the repairer of] the broken walls
    and ·for rebuilding [the restorer of] the roads and houses.

¹³ “·You must obey God’s law about [^LIf you turn your foot away from…; ^Cavoiding Sabbath journeys] the Sabbath
    and not do what pleases yourselves on that holy day.
·You should [^L…and if you…] call the Sabbath a ·joyful day [delight]
    and honor it as the Lord’s holy day.
·You should [^L…and if you…] honor it by not ·doing whatever you please [^Lgoing your own way]
    nor saying ·whatever you please [idle words] on that day.
¹⁴ ·Then [^L…then] you will find ·joy [delight] in the Lord,
    and I will ·carry you to [or cause you to ride on] the high places above the earth.
    I will ·let you eat the crops of the land [^Lfeed you with the inheritance] of your ancestor Jacob.”
The ·Lord has said these things [^Lmouth of the Lord has spoken].