3 "Why have we fasted, but you have not seen?  *

We have denied ourselves, but you haven’t noticed! "  *

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

and oppress all your workers.  *

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?  *

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,  *

to untie the ropes of the yoke,

to set the oppressed free,

and to tear off every yoke?  *