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

Isn’t this the fast I choose:
    releasing wicked restraints, untying the ropes of a yoke,
    setting free the mistreated,
    and breaking every yoke?
Isn’t it sharing your bread with the hungry
    and bringing the homeless poor into your house,
    covering the naked when you see them,
    and not hiding from your own family?
Then your light will break out like the dawn,
    and you will be healed quickly.
Your own righteousness will walk before you,
    and the Lord’s glory will be your rear guard.
Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
    you will cry for help, and God will say, “I’m here.”
If you remove the yoke from among you,
    the finger-pointing, the wicked speech;
10     if you open your heart to the hungry,
    and provide abundantly for those who are afflicted,
    your light will shine in the darkness,
    and your gloom will be like the noon.
11 The Lord will guide you continually
    and provide for you, even in parched places.
    He will rescue your bones.
You will be like a watered garden,
    like a spring of water that won’t run dry.
12 They will rebuild ancient ruins on your account;
    the foundations of generations past you will restore.
You will be called Mender of Broken Walls,
    Restorer of Livable Streets.

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