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

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Footnotes

  1. 58:7 Lit not hide yourself from your flesh
  2. 58:10 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr read offer your bread

Is this not the fast that I choose:
To (A)release the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the ropes of the yoke,
And to (B)let the oppressed go free,
And (C)break every yoke?
Is it not to (D)break your bread [a]with the hungry
And (E)bring the homeless poor into the house;
When you see the (F)naked, to 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 spring up quickly;
And your (J)righteousness will go before you;
The glory of the (K)Lord will be your rear guard.
Then you will (L)call, and the Lord will answer;
You will cry for help, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’
If you (M)remove the yoke from your midst,
The [b](N)pointing of the finger and (O)speaking wickedness,
10 And if you (P)offer yourself to the hungry
And satisfy the [c]need of the afflicted,
Then your (Q)light will rise in darkness,
And your gloom will become like midday.
11 And the (R)Lord will continually guide you,
And (S)satisfy your [d]desire in scorched places,
And (T)give strength to your bones;
And you will be like a (U)watered garden,
And like a (V)spring of water whose waters do not [e]fail.
12 Those from among you will (W)rebuild the ancient ruins;
You will (X)raise up the age-old foundations;
And you will be called the repairer of the (Y)breach,
The restorer of the [f]streets in which to dwell.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 58:7 Lit for
  2. Isaiah 58:9 I.e., an abusive gesture
  3. Isaiah 58:10 Or soul
  4. Isaiah 58:11 Or soul
  5. Isaiah 58:11 Or deceive
  6. Isaiah 58:12 Lit paths