Isaiah 58:5–10

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