Isaiah 58:1–12

True Fasting

58“Shout it aloud,^u do not hold back.

Raise your voice like a trumpet.^v

Declare to my people their rebellion^w

and to the descendants of Jacob their sins.^x

²For day after day they seek^y me out;

they seem eager to know my ways,

as if they were a nation that does what is right

and has not forsaken^z the commands of its God.

They ask me for just decisions

and seem eager for God to come near^a them.

³‘Why have we fasted,’^b they say,

‘and you have not seen it?

Why have we humbled^c ourselves,

and you have not noticed?’^d

“Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please^e

and exploit all your workers.

⁴Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,^f

and in striking each other with wicked fists.

You cannot fast as you do today

and expect your voice to be heard^g on high.

⁵Is this the kind of fast^h I have chosen,

only a day for people to humbleⁱ themselves?

Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed^j

and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?^k

Is that what you call a fast,

a day acceptable to the Lord?

⁶“Is not this the kind of fasting^l I have chosen:

to loose the chains of injustice^m

and untie the cords of the yoke,

to set the oppressedⁿ free

and break every yoke?^o

⁷Is it not to share your food with the hungry^p

and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter^q—

when you see the naked, to clothe^r them,

and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?^s

⁸Then your light will break forth like the dawn,^t

and your healing^u will quickly appear;

then your righteousness^av will go before you,

and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.^w

⁹Then you will call,^x and the Lord will answer;^y

you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,

with the pointing finger^z and malicious talk,^a

¹⁰and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry

and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,^b

then your light^c will rise in the darkness,

and your night will become like the noonday.^d

¹¹The Lord will guide^e you always;

he will satisfy your needs^f in a sun-scorched land^g

and will strengthen^h your frame.

You will be like a well-watered garden,ⁱ

like a spring^j whose waters never fail.

¹²Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins^k

and will raise up the age-old foundations;^l

you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,^m

Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.