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They still come every day looking for me
    and want to learn my ways.
They act just like a nation that does what is right,
    that obeys the commands of its God.
They ask me to judge them fairly.
    They want God to be near them.
They say, ‘To honor you we had special days when we fasted,
    but you didn’t see.
We humbled ourselves to honor you,
    but you didn’t notice.’”

But the Lord says, “You do what pleases yourselves on these special days,
    and you are unfair to your workers.
On these special days when you fast, you argue and fight
    and hit each other with your fists.
You cannot do these things as you do now
    and believe your prayers are heard in heaven.

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For day after day they seek(A) me out;
    they seem eager to know my ways,
as if they were a nation that does what is right
    and has not forsaken(B) the commands of its God.
They ask me for just decisions
    and seem eager for God to come near(C) them.
‘Why have we fasted,’(D) they say,
    ‘and you have not seen it?
Why have we humbled(E) ourselves,
    and you have not noticed?’(F)

“Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please(G)
    and exploit all your workers.
Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,(H)
    and in striking each other with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today
    and expect your voice to be heard(I) on high.

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