Isaiah 58

True Fasting

1 "Cry out loudly, don’t hold back!

Raise your voice like a ram’s horn.

Tell my people their transgression

and the house of Jacob their sins.

2 They seek me day after day

and delight to know my ways,

like a nation that does what is right

and does not abandon the justice of their God.

They ask me for righteous judgments;

they delight in the nearness of God."  * 58:2 Ps 119:151; Is 29:13; 57:3; Jms 4:8

3 "Why have we fasted, but you have not seen?  * 58:3 Mal 3:14; Lk 18:12

We have denied ourselves, but you haven’t noticed! "  * 58:3 These are Israel’s words to God.

"Look, you do as you please on the day of your fast,

and oppress all your workers.  * 58:3 Is 22:12–13; Zch 7:5–6

4 You fast with contention and strife

to strike viciously with your fist.

You cannot fast as you do today,

hoping to make your voice heard on high.

5 Will the fast I choose be like this:

A day for a person to deny himself,

to bow his head like a reed,

and to spread out sackcloth and ashes?  * 58:5 Est 4:3; Dn 9:3

Will you call this a fast

and a day acceptable to the  Lord?

6 Isn’t this the fast I choose:

To break the chains of wickedness,  * 58:6 Jb 36:8; Ps 107:10; Ec 7:26

to untie the ropes of the yoke,

to set the oppressed free,

and to tear off every yoke?  * 58:6 Neh 5:10–12; Is 58:9; Jr 34:8

7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,  * 58:7 Jb 31:19–20; Is 58:10; Ezk 18:7,16

to bring the poor and homeless into your house,

to clothe the naked when you see him,  * 58:7 Mt 25:35–36; Lk 3:11

and not to ignore your own flesh and blood?  * 58:7 Lit not hide yourself from your flesh,* 58:7 Dt 22:1–4; Lk 10:31–32

8 Then your light will appear like the dawn,

and your recovery will come quickly.  * 58:8 Is 30:26; 33:24; Jr 30:17; 33:6

Your righteousness will go before you,  * 58:8 Ps 85:13; Is 62:1

and the Lord’s glory will be your rear guard.  * 58:8 Ex 14:19; Is 52:12

9 At that time, when you call, the  Lord will answer;  * 58:9 Ps 50:15; Is 55:6; 65:24

when you cry out, he will say, ‘Here I am.’

If you get rid of the yoke among you,

the finger-pointing and malicious speaking,  * 58:9 Pr 6:13

10 and if you offer yourself  * 58:10 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr read offer your bread to the hungry,

and satisfy the afflicted one,

then your light will shine in the darkness,  * 58:10 Jb 11:17; Ps 37:6; Is 42:16; 58:8

and your night will be like noonday.

11 The Lord will always lead you,

satisfy you in a parched land,

and strengthen your bones.

You will be like a watered garden  * 58:11 Sg 4:15; Is 27:3; Jr 31:12

and like a spring whose water never runs dry.  * 58:11 Jn 4:14; 7:38

12 Some of you will rebuild the ancient ruins;  * 58:12 Ezr 6:14; Neh 4:6; Is 49:8; 61:4; Ezk 36:10

you will restore the foundations laid long ago;  * 58:12 1Kg 6:37; Ezr 3:10–12

you will be called the repairer of broken walls,

the restorer of streets where people live.

13 "If you keep from desecrating the Sabbath,  * 58:13 Ex 31:16–17; 35:2–3; Is 56:2–6; Jr 17:21–27

from doing whatever you want on my holy day;

if you call the Sabbath a delight,

and the holy day of the  Lord  honorable;

if you honor it, not going your own ways,  * 58:13 Is 55:8

seeking your own pleasure, or talking business;  * 58:13 Or idly,* 58:13 Lit or speak a word

14 then you will delight in the  Lord,  * 58:14 Jb 22:26; Ps 37:4

and I will make you ride over the heights of the land,  * 58:14 Dt 32:13; 33:29; Is 33:16; Hab 3:19

and let you enjoy the heritage of your father Jacob."

For the mouth of the  Lord has spoken.  * 58:14 Is 1:20; 40:5