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 oppress all your workers.4Behold, you fast for contention and 4strife, and to strike with a wicked fist. You do not fast like you have done today to 5make your voice heard on high!5Is it a fast like this that I choose, a day for a person 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 that I choose: To 9release the bonds of wickedness, To undo the ropes of the yoke, And to 10let the oppressed go free, And 11break every yoke?7Is it not to 12break 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 spring up quickly; 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 for help, 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 26offer yourself to the hungry And satisfy the 27need of the afflicted, Then your 28light will rise in darkness, And your gloom will become like midday.11And the 29Lord will continually guide you, And 30satisfy your 31desire in scorched places, And 32give strength to your bones; And you will be like a 33watered garden, And like a 34spring of water whose waters do not 35fail.12Those from among you will 36rebuild the ancient ruins; You will 37raise up the age-old foundations; And you will be called the repairer of the 38breach, The restorer of the 39streets in which to dwell.