Isaiah 58:3–8

³“Why have we fasted, but you have not seen?^t

We have denied ourselves, but you haven’t noticed!”^A

“Look, you do as you please on the day of your fast,

and oppress all your workers.^u

⁴You fast with contention and strife

to strike viciously with your fist.

You cannot fast as you do today,

hoping to make your voice heard on high.

⁵Will the fast I choose be like this:

A day for a person to deny himself,

to bow his head like a reed,

and to spread out sackcloth and ashes?^a

Will you call this a fast

and a day acceptable to the Lord?

⁶Isn’t this the fast I choose:

To break the chains of wickedness,^b

to untie the ropes of the yoke,

to set the oppressed free,

and to tear off every yoke?^c

⁷Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,^d

to bring the poor and homeless into your house,

to clothe the naked when you see him,^e

and not to ignore your own flesh and blood?^Bf

⁸Then your light will appear like the dawn,

and your recovery will come quickly.^g

Your righteousness will go before you,^h

and the Lord’s glory will be your rear guard.ⁱ