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.
2They 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
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
4You 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.
5Will the fast I choose be like this:
A day for a person to deny himself,
to bow his head like a reed,
Will you call this a fast
and a day acceptable to the Lord?
6Isn’t this the fast I choose:
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
7Is 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 flesh58:7 Dt 22:1–4; Lk 10:31–32
8Then your light will appear like the dawn,
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
10and if you offer yourself58:10 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr read offer your bread to the hungry,
and satisfy the afflicted one,
and your night will be like noonday.
11The Lord will always lead you,
satisfy you in a parched land,
and strengthen your bones.
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 idly58:13 Lit or speak a word
and let you enjoy the heritage of your father Jacob.”
Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard
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