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Isn’t this the[a] fast that[b] I have been choosing:
    to loose the bonds of injustice,
and[c] to untie the cords of the yoke,
    and[d] to let the oppressed go free,
        and to break every yoke?
Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry,
    and to bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked,
    to cover him with clothing,[e]
        and not to raise yourself up[f] from your own flesh and blood?”

God’s Reward

“Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
    and your healing will spring up quickly;
and your vindication will go before you,
    and[g] the glory of the Lord will guard your back.
Then you’ll call,
    and the Lord will answer;
you’ll cry for help,
    and he’ll respond, ‘Here I am.’

“If you do away with the yoke among you,
    and[h] pointing fingers and malicious talk;
10 if you pour yourself out for the hungry
    and satisfy the needs of afflicted souls,
then your light will rise in darkness,
    and your night will be like noonday.
11 And the Lord will guide you continually,
    and satisfy your soul in parched places,[i]
        and they[j] will strengthen your bones;
and you’ll be like a watered garden,
    like a spring of water,
        whose waters never fail.
12 And your people will rebuild the ancient ruins;
    You’ll raise up the age-old foundations,[k]
and people will call you[l] ‘Repairer of Broken Walls,’
    ‘Restorer of Streets to Live In.’

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 58:6 So 1QIsaa; 1QIsab MT LXX lack the
  2. Isaiah 58:6 So 1QIsaa; 1QIsab MT LXX lack that
  3. Isaiah 58:6 So 1QIsaa; 1QIsab MT LXX lack and
  4. Isaiah 58:6 So 1QIsaa MT; 1QIsab 4QIsad LXX lack and
  5. Isaiah 58:7 So 1QIsaa; 1QIsab MT LXX lack with clothing
  6. Isaiah 58:7 So 1QIsaa; 1QIsab MT read to hide yourself; LXX reads to disregard
  7. Isaiah 58:8 So 1QIsaa 1QIsab LXX; MT lacks and
  8. Isaiah 58:9 So 1QIsaa LXX; 1QIsab MT lack and
  9. Isaiah 58:11 1QIsaa spells the word places incorrectly
  10. Isaiah 58:11 So 1QIsaa 1QIsab; MT reads he; LXX reads and your bones will be strengthened
  11. Isaiah 58:12 Lit. the foundations of many generations
  12. Isaiah 58:12 So 1QIsaa; 1QIsab MT LXX read you will be called

Is this not the fast I choose: to release the bonds of injustice,
    to untie the ropes of the yoke,
and to let the oppressed go free,
    and tear[a] every yoke to pieces?
Is it not to break your bread for the hungry?
    You must bring home[b] the poor, the homeless.
When you see the naked, you must cover him,
    and you must not hide yourself from your relatives.[c]
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
    and your healing shall grow quickly.
And your salvation shall go before you;
    the glory of Yahweh will be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and Yahweh himself will answer.
    You shall cry for help, and he will say, ‘Here I am!’
If you remove from among you the yoke,
    the finger-pointing[d] and evil speech,[e]
10 if[f] you offer your soul to the hungry,
    and you satisfy the appetite of the afflicted,
then[g] your light shall rise in the darkness,
    and your darkness will be like noon.
11 And Yahweh will lead you continually, and satisfy your soul in a barren land,
    and he will strengthen your bones,
and you shall be like a well-watered garden,
    and like a spring of water whose water does not fail.
12 And they shall rebuild ancient ruins from you;
    you shall erect the foundations of many generations,[h]
and you shall be called[i] the bricklayer of the breach,
    the restorer of paths to live in.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 58:6 Literally “you must tear”
  2. Isaiah 58:7 Literally “a house”
  3. Isaiah 58:7 Literally “flesh”
  4. Isaiah 58:9 Literally “stretching out of the finger”
  5. Isaiah 58:9 Literally “the speaking of evil”
  6. Isaiah 58:10 Or “and”
  7. Isaiah 58:10 Or “and”
  8. Isaiah 58:12 Literally “generation and generation”
  9. Isaiah 58:12 Literally “shall be called to you”