Isaiah 58:5–10

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

⁹At that time, when you call, the Lord will answer;^j

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,^k

¹⁰and if you offer yourself^C to the hungry,

and satisfy the afflicted one,

then your light will shine in the darkness,^l

and your night will be like noonday.