3 You wonder why the Lord

pays no attention

when you go without eating

and act humble.

But on those same days

that you give up eating,

you think only of yourselves*

and abuse your workers.

4 You even get angry

and ready to fight.

No wonder God won’t listen

to your prayers!

5 Do you think the Lord

wants you to give up eating

and to act as humble

as a bent-over bush?

Or to dress in sackcloth

and sit in ashes?

Is this really what he wants

on a day of worship?

6 I’ll tell you

what it really means

to worship the Lord.

Remove the chains of prisoners

who are bound unjustly.

Free those who are abused!