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Is this not the fast which I choose,
To (A)loosen the bonds of wickedness,
To release the bands of [a]the yoke,
And to (B)let the oppressed go free
And (C)break every [b]yoke?
Is it not to (D)divide your bread [c]with the hungry
And (E)bring the afflicted homeless into the house;
When you see the (F)naked, you cover him;
And not to (G)hide yourself from your own flesh?
Then your (H)light will break out like the dawn,
And your (I)recovery will speedily spring forth;
And your (J)righteousness will go before you;
The glory of (K)Yahweh will be your rear guard.
Then you will (L)call, and Yahweh will answer;
You will cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’
If you (M)remove the [d]yoke from your midst,
The [e](N)pointing of the finger and (O)speaking wickedness,
10 And if you [f](P)offer your soul to the hungry
And satisfy the soul of the afflicted,
Then your (Q)light will rise in darkness
And your thick darkness will become like midday.
11 And (R)Yahweh will continually guide you,
And (S)satisfy your soul in scorched places,
And (T)fortify your bones;
And you will be like a (U)watered garden,
And like a (V)spring of water whose waters do not [g]fail.
12 Those from among you will (W)rebuild the ancient waste places;
You will (X)raise up the foundations of past generation upon generation;
And you will be called the repairer of the (Y)breach,
The restorer of the paths for one to inhabit.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 58:6 Lit the bar of the yoke
  2. Isaiah 58:6 Lit the bar of the yoke
  3. Isaiah 58:7 Lit for
  4. Isaiah 58:9 Lit bar of the yoke
  5. Isaiah 58:9 Lit sending out
  6. Isaiah 58:10 Lit furnish
  7. Isaiah 58:11 Or deceive

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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