Isn’t this the fast I choose:
To break the chains of wickedness,(A)
to untie the ropes of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free,
and to tear off every yoke?(B)
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,(C)
to bring the poor and homeless into your house,
to clothe the naked when you see him,(D)
and not to ignore your own flesh and blood?[a](E)
Then your light will appear like the dawn,
and your recovery will come quickly.(F)
Your righteousness will go before you,(G)
and the Lord’s glory will be your rear guard.(H)

At that time, when you call, the Lord will answer;(I)
when you cry out, he will say, ‘Here I am.’
If you get rid of the yoke among you,
the finger-pointing and malicious speaking,(J)
10 and if you offer yourself[b] to the hungry,
and satisfy the afflicted one,
then your light will shine in the darkness,(K)
and your night will be like noonday.
11 The Lord will always lead you,
satisfy you in a parched land,
and strengthen your bones.
You will be like a watered garden(L)
and like a spring whose water never runs dry.(M)
12 Some of you will rebuild the ancient ruins;(N)
you will restore the foundations laid long ago;(O)
you will be called the repairer of broken walls,
the restorer of streets where people live.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 58:7 Lit not hide yourself from your flesh
  2. 58:10 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr read offer your bread

Is not this the fast that I choose:
    to loose the bonds of injustice,
    to undo the straps of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
    and to break every yoke?(A)
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry
    and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover them
    and not to hide yourself from your own kin?(B)
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
    and your healing shall spring up quickly;
your vindicator[a] shall go before you;
    the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.(C)
Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
    you shall cry for help, and he will say, “Here I am.”

If you remove the yoke from among you,
    the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,(D)
10 if you offer your food to the hungry
    and satisfy the needs of the afflicted,
then your light shall rise in the darkness
    and your gloom be like the noonday.(E)
11 The Lord will guide you continually
    and satisfy your needs in parched places
    and make your bones strong,
and you shall be like a watered garden,
    like a spring of water
    whose waters never fail.(F)
12 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 live in.(G)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 58.8 Or vindication