(A)Is such the fast that I choose,
    (B)a day for a person to humble himself?
Is it to bow down his head like a reed,
    and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him?
Will you call this a fast,
    and a day acceptable to the Lord?

“Is not this the fast that I choose:
    (C)to loose the bonds of wickedness,
    to undo the straps (D)of the yoke,
to let the oppressed[a] go free,
    and to break every yoke?
Is it not (E)to share your bread with the hungry
    and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover him,
    (F)and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 58:6 Or bruised

Is this the kind of fast(A) I have chosen,
    only a day for people to humble(B) themselves?
Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed(C)
    and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?(D)
Is that what you call a fast,
    a day acceptable to the Lord?

“Is not this the kind of fasting(E) I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice(F)
    and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed(G) free
    and break every yoke?(H)
Is it not to share your food with the hungry(I)
    and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter(J)
when you see the naked, to clothe(K) them,
    and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?(L)

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