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Why have we fasted if you are not aware of it?
    Why have we inflicted pain on ourselves if you don’t pay attention?

Don’t you see that on the days you fast,
    you do what you want to do?
        You mistreat all your workers.
Don’t you see that when you fast,
    you quarrel and fight and beat your workers?
        The way you fast today keeps you from being heard in heaven.
Is this the kind of fasting I have chosen?
    Should people humble themselves for only a day?
    Is fasting just bowing your head like a cattail
    and making your bed from sackcloth and ashes?
    Is this what you call fasting?
    Is this an acceptable day to Yahweh?

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‘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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