“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

Isn’t 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[a] your own flesh and blood?(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,[b]
the finger-pointing and malicious speaking,(J)
10 and if you offer yourself[c] 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 waters never run dry.(M)
12 Some of you will rebuild the ancient ruins;(N)
you will restore the foundations laid long ago;[d](O)
you will be called the repairer of broken walls,
the restorer of streets where people live.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 58:7 Lit not hide yourself from
  2. Isaiah 58:9 Lit yoke from your midst
  3. Isaiah 58:10 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr read offer your bread
  4. Isaiah 58:12 Lit foundations generation and generation