Isaiah 58:1–7

Worship the Lord as He Wants to Be Worshiped

¹Cry aloud! Don’t hold back! 

Raise your voice like a ram’s horn. 

Tell my people about their rebellion 

and the descendants of Jacob about their sins. 

²They look for me every day and want to know my ways. 

They act as if they were a nation that has done what is right 

and as if they haven’t disregarded God’s judgment ⸤on them⸥. 

They ask me for just decrees. 

They want God to be near them. 

³Why have we fasted if you are not aware of it? 

Why have we inflicted pain on ourselves if you don’t pay attention? 

Don’t you see that on the days you fast, 

you do what you want to do? 

You mistreat all your workers. 

⁴Don’t you see that when you fast, 

you quarrel and fight and beat your workers? 

The way you fast today keeps you from being heard in heaven. 

⁵Is this the kind of fasting I have chosen? 

Should people humble themselves for ⸤only⸥ a day? 

Is fasting just bowing your head like a cattail 

and making your bed from sackcloth and ashes? 

Is this what you call fasting? 

Is this an acceptable day to the Lord? 

⁶This is the kind of fasting I have chosen: 

Loosen the chains of wickedness, 

untie the straps of the yoke,^a

let the oppressed go free, 

and break every yoke. 

⁷Share your food with the hungry, 

take the poor and homeless into your house, 

and cover them with clothes when you see ⸤them⸥ naked. 

Don’t refuse to help your relatives.