Isaiah 58:6–11

⁶“Here is the way I want you to fast.

“Set free those who are held by chains without any reason.

Untie the ropes that hold people as slaves.

Set free those who are crushed.

Break every evil chain.

⁷Share your food with hungry people.

Provide homeless people with a place to stay.

Give naked people clothes to wear.

Provide for the needs of your own family.

⁸Then the light of my blessing will shine on you like the rising sun.

I will heal you quickly.

I will march out ahead of you.

And my glory will follow behind you and guard you.

That is because I always do what is right.

⁹You will call out to me for help.

And I will answer you.

You will cry out.

And I will say, ‘Here I am.’

“Get rid of the chains you use to hold others down.

Stop pointing your finger at others as if they had done something wrong.

Stop saying harmful things about them.

¹⁰Work hard to feed hungry people.

Satisfy the needs of those who are crushed.

Then my blessing will light up your darkness.

And the night of your suffering will become as bright as the noonday sun.

¹¹I will always guide you.

I will satisfy your needs in a land that is baked by the sun.

I will make you stronger.

You will be like a garden that has plenty of water.

You will be like a spring whose water never runs dry.