Isaiah 58:1–9

The Lord Desires Genuine Devotion

58:1 “Shout loudly! Don’t be quiet!

Yell as loud as a trumpet!

Confront my people with their rebellious deeds;1

confront Jacob’s family with their sin!2

58:2 They seek me day after day;

they want to know my requirements,3

like a nation that does what is right

and does not reject the law of their God.

They ask me for just decrees;

they want to be near God.

58:3 They lament,4 ‘Why don’t you notice when we fast?

Why don’t you pay attention when we humble ourselves?’

Look, at the same time you fast, you satisfy your selfish desires,5

you oppress your workers.6

58:4 Look, your fasting is accompanied by7 arguments, brawls,

and fistfights.8

Do not fast as you do today,

trying to make your voice heard in heaven.

58:5 Is this really the kind of fasting I want?9

Do I want a day when people merely humble themselves,10

bowing their heads like a reed

and stretching out11 on sackcloth and ashes?

Is this really what you call a fast,

a day that is pleasing to the Lord?

58:6 No, this is the kind of fast I want.12

I want you13 to remove the sinful chains,

to tear away the ropes of the burdensome yoke,

to set free the oppressed,14

and to break every burdensome yoke.

58:7 I want you15 to share your food with the hungry

and to provide shelter for homeless, oppressed people.16

When you see someone naked, clothe him!

Don’t turn your back on your own flesh and blood!17

58:8 Then your light will shine like the sunrise;18

your restoration will quickly arrive;19

your godly behavior20 will go before you,

and the Lord’s splendor will be your rear guard.21

58:9 Then you will call out, and the Lord will respond;

you will cry out, and he will reply, ‘Here I am.’

You must22 remove the burdensome yoke from among you

and stop pointing fingers and speaking sinfully.

1	tn Heb “declare to my people their rebellion.”
2	tn Heb “and to the house of Jacob their sin.” The verb “declare” is understood by ellipsis (note the preceding line).
3	tn Heb “ways” (so KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV, TEV); NLT “my laws.”
4	tn The words “they lament” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
5	tn Heb “you find pleasure”; NASB “you find your desire.”
6	tn Or perhaps, “debtors.” See HALOT 865 s.v. * עָצֵב.
7	tn Heb “you fast for” (so NASB); NRSV “you fast only to quarrel.”
8	tn Heb “and for striking with a sinful fist.”
9	tn Heb “choose” (so NASB, NRSV); NAB “wish.”
10	tn Heb “a day when man humbles himself.” The words “Do I want” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
11	tn Or “making [their] bed.”
12	tn Heb “Is this not a fast I choose?” “No” is supplied in the translation for clarification.
13	tn The words “I want you” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
14	tn Heb “crushed.”
15	tn Heb “Is it not?” The rhetorical question here expects a positive answer, “It is!”
16	tn Heb “and afflicted [ones], homeless [ones] you should bring [into] a house.” On the meaning of מְרוּדִים (mérudim, “homeless”) see HALOT 633 s.v. *מָרוּד.
17	tn Heb “and from your flesh do not hide yourself.”
18	tn Heb “will burst out like the dawn.” sn Light here symbolizes God’s favor and restored blessing, as the immediately following context makes clear.
19	tn Heb “prosper”; KJV “spring forth speedily.”
20	tn Or “righteousness.” Their godly behavior will be on display for all to see.
21	sn The nation will experience God’s protective presence.
22	tn Heb “if you.” In the Hebrew text vv. 9b–10 are one long conditional sentence. The protasis (“if” clauses appear in vv. 9b–10a), with the apodosis (“then” clause) appearing in v. 10b.