Isaiah 58:3-12

3‘Why have we 1fasted and You do not see? Why have we humbled ourselves and You do not 2notice?’ Behold, on the 3day of your fast you find your desire, And drive hard all your workers.4Behold, you fast for contention and 4strife and to strike with a wicked fist. You do not fast like you do today to 5make your voice heard on high.5Is it a fast like this which I choose, a day for a man to humble himself? Is it for bowing 6one’s head like a reed And for spreading out 7sackcloth and ashes as a bed? Will you call this a fast, even an 8acceptable day to the Lord?6Is this not the fast which I choose, To 9loosen the bonds of wickedness, To undo the bands of the yoke, And to 10let the oppressed go free And 11break every yoke?7Is it not to 12divide your bread 13with the hungry And 14bring the homeless poor into the house; When you see the 15naked, to cover him; And not to 16hide yourself from your own flesh?8Then your 17light will break out like the dawn, And your 18recovery will speedily spring forth; And your 19righteousness will go before you; The glory of the 20Lord will be your rear guard.9Then you will 21call, and the Lord will answer; You will cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you 22remove the yoke from your midst, The 2324pointing of the finger and 25speaking wickedness,10And if you 2627give yourself to the hungry And satisfy the 28desire of the afflicted, Then your 29light will rise in darkness And your gloom will become like midday.11And the 30Lord will continually guide you, And 31satisfy your 32desire in scorched places, And 33give strength to your bones; And you will be like a 34watered garden, And like a 35spring of water whose waters do not 36fail.12Those from among you will 37rebuild the ancient ruins; You will 38raise up the age-old foundations; And you will be called the repairer of the 39breach, The restorer of the 40streets in which to dwell.