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Isaiah 58:3-5
Expanded Bible
Isaiah 58:3-5
Expanded Bible
3 They say, ‘·To honor you we had special days when [L Why have…?] we fasted,
but you didn’t see.
·We humbled ourselves to honor you [L Why have we afflicted our souls/selves…?],
but you didn’t notice.’”
But the Lord says, “[L Look; T Behold] You ·do what pleases [satisfy; seek pleasure for] yourselves on these fast days,
and you ·are unfair to [exploit; oppress] your workers.
4 Even when you fast, you argue and fight
and ·hit each other with your [L hit with wicked/sinful] fists.
You cannot do these things as you do now
and ·believe your prayers are [expect to be] heard ·in heaven [on high].
5 ·This kind of special day is not what [Is this the fast that…?] I ·want [have chosen].
·This is not the way I want people to be sorry for what they have done [L Do I want a day when people afflict/mortify themselves?].
I don’t want people just to bow their heads like a ·plant [reed]
·and wear rough cloth and lie in ashes to show their sadness [L stretching out on sackcloth and ashes].
Is this what you call a fast?
·Do you really think this pleases [L …a day acceptable to] the Lord?
Isaiah 58:3-5
New International Version
Isaiah 58:3-5
New International Version
3 ‘Why have we fasted,’(A) they say,
‘and you have not seen it?
Why have we humbled(B) ourselves,
and you have not noticed?’(C)
“Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please(D)
and exploit all your workers.
4 Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,(E)
and in striking each other with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today
and expect your voice to be heard(F) on high.
5 Is this the kind of fast(G) I have chosen,
only a day for people to humble(H) themselves?
Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed(I)
and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?(J)
Is that what you call a fast,
a day acceptable to the Lord?
Expanded Bible (EXB)
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.