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‘Why do we fast, and you do not see it?
    We humiliate our soul, and you do not notice it?’
Look! You find delight on the day of your fast,
    and you oppress all your workers!
Look! You fast to quarrel and strife,
    and to strike with a wicked fist.[a]
You shall not fast as you do today,[b]
    to make your voice heard[c] on the height.
Is the fast I choose like this,
    a day for humankind to humiliate himself[d]?
To bow his head like a reed,
    and make[e] his bed on sackcloth and ashes;
you call this a fast
    and a day of pleasure to Yahweh?

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 58:4 Literally “fist of wickedness”
  2. Isaiah 58:4 Literally “the day”
  3. Isaiah 58:4 Literally “cause to hear your voice”
  4. Isaiah 58:5 Literally “his soul”
  5. Isaiah 58:5 Literally “he makes”

‘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.
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.
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?

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