Isaiah 58:3–8

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