3 Why have we done a tzom, say they, and Thou seest not?

Why have we afflicted nafsheinu, and Thou takest no notice?

See, in your yom tzom ye find chefetz (pleasure, personal advantage)

and exploit all your toilers.

4 See, ye undergo a tzom for grievance and strife,

and to strike with the fist of resha;

ye shall not do a tzom as ye do today,

to make your voice to be heard on marom.

5 Is such as this a tzom that I have chosen?

Merely for adam to afflict his nefesh?

To bow down his rosh like a bulrush,

and to spread sackcloth and efer (ashes) under him?

Wilt thou call this a tzom,

and a yom ratzon (a day of acceptance, an acceptable day) unto Hashem?

6 Is not this the tzom that I have chosen?

To loose the chartzubbot resha (chains of wickedness, injustice),

to undo the aguddot motah (bindings of the yoke bar),

and to let the retzutzim (oppressed ones) go as chafeshim (free ones),

and that ye break kol motah (every yoke of oppression)?