⁶ The Lord works righteousness^(M)
    and justice for all the oppressed.^(N)

⁷ He made known^(O) his ways^(P) to Moses,
    his deeds^(Q) to the people of Israel:
⁸ The Lord is compassionate and gracious,^(R)
    slow to anger, abounding in love.
⁹ He will not always accuse,
    nor will he harbor his anger forever;^(S)
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve^(T)
    or repay us according to our iniquities.
¹¹ For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his love^(U) for those who fear him;^(V)
12 as far as the east is from the west,
    so far has he removed our transgressions^(W) from us.

¹³ As a father has compassion^(X) on his children,
    so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
¹⁴ for he knows how we are formed,^(Y)
    he remembers that we are dust.^(Z)
15 The life of mortals is like grass,^(AA)
    they flourish like a flower^(AB) of the field;
¹⁶ the wind blows^(AC) over it and it is gone,
    and its place^(AD) remembers it no more.
¹⁷ But from everlasting to everlasting
    the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,
    and his righteousness with their children’s children^(AE)—
¹⁸ with those who keep his covenant^(AF)
    and remember^(AG) to obey his precepts.^(AH)

¹⁹ The Lord has established his throne^(AI) in heaven,
    and his kingdom rules^(AJ) over all.

²⁰ Praise the Lord,^(AK) you his angels,^(AL)
    you mighty ones^(AM) who do his bidding,^(AN)
    who obey his word.
²¹ Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts,^(AO)
    you his servants^(AP) who do his will.
²² Praise the Lord, all his works^(AQ)
    everywhere in his dominion.

Praise the Lord, my soul.^(AR)

⁸ The Lord is compassionate and gracious,^(A)
    slow to anger, abounding in love.
⁹ He will not always accuse,
    nor will he harbor his anger forever;^(B)
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve^(C)
    or repay us according to our iniquities.
¹¹ For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his love^(D) for those who fear him;^(E)
12 as far as the east is from the west,
    so far has he removed our transgressions^(F) from us.

¹³ As a father has compassion^(G) on his children,
    so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
¹⁴ for he knows how we are formed,^(H)
    he remembers that we are dust.^(I)

Let all who live in the land tremble,
    for the day of the Lord^(D) is coming.
It is close at hand^(E)—
²     a day of darkness^(F) and gloom,^(G)
    a day of clouds^(H) and blackness.^(I)
Like dawn spreading across the mountains
    a large and mighty army^(J) comes,
such as never was in ancient times^(K)
    nor ever will be in ages to come.

¹³ Rend your heart^(C)
    and not your garments.^(D)
Return^(E) to the Lord your God,
    for he is gracious and compassionate,^(F)
slow to anger and abounding in love,^(G)
    and he relents from sending calamity.^(H)
14 Who knows? He may turn^(I) and relent^(J)
    and leave behind a blessing^(K)—
grain offerings and drink offerings^(L)
    for the Lord your God.

¹⁵ Blow the trumpet^(M) in Zion,^(N)
    declare a holy fast,^(O)
    call a sacred assembly.^(P)
16 Gather the people,
    consecrate^(Q) the assembly;
bring together the elders,^(R)
    gather the children,
    those nursing at the breast.
Let the bridegroom^(S) leave his room
    and the bride her chamber.
¹⁷ Let the priests, who minister^(T) before the Lord,
    weep^(U) between the portico and the altar.^(V)
Let them say, “Spare your people, Lord.
    Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn,^(W)
    a byword^(X) among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
    ‘Where is their God?^(Y)’”

“Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please^(K)
    and exploit all your workers.
⁴ Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,^(L)
    and in striking each other with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today
    and expect your voice to be heard^(M) on high.
⁵ Is this the kind of fast^(N) I have chosen,
    only a day for people to humble^(O) themselves?
Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed^(P)
    and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?^(Q)
Is that what you call a fast,
    a day acceptable to the Lord?

⁶ “Is not this the kind of fasting^(R) I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice^(S)
    and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed^(T) free
    and break every yoke?^(U)
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry^(V)
    and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter^(W)—
when you see the naked, to clothe^(X) them,
    and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?^(Y)
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,^(Z)
    and your healing^(AA) will quickly appear;
then your righteousness^[a](AB) will go before you,
    and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.^(AC)
9 Then you will call,^(AD) and the Lord will answer;^(AE)
    you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
    with the pointing finger^(AF) and malicious talk,^(AG)
10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
    and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,^(AH)
then your light^(AI) will rise in the darkness,
    and your night will become like the noonday.^(AJ)
11 The Lord will guide^(AK) you always;
    he will satisfy your needs^(AL) in a sun-scorched land^(AM)
    and will strengthen^(AN) your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,^(AO)
    like a spring^(AP) whose waters never fail.
¹² Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins^(AQ)
    and will raise up the age-old foundations;^(AR)
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,^(AS)
    Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.