Will the fast I choose be like this:
A day for a person to deny himself,
to bow his head like a reed,
and to spread out sackcloth and ashes?(A)
Will you call this a fast
and a day acceptable to the Lord?
Isn’t the fast I choose:
To break the chains of wickedness,(B)
to untie the ropes of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free,
and to tear off every yoke?(C)
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,(D)
to bring the poor and homeless into your house,
to clothe the naked when you see him,(E)
and not to ignore[a] your own flesh and blood?(F)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 58:7 Lit not hide yourself from

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)

Read full chapter