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Behold, you fast for contention and (A)quarreling and to strike with a wicked fist.
You do not fast like you do today to (B)make your voice heard on high.
Is it a fast like this which I choose, a day for a man to afflict himself?
Is it for bowing [a]one’s head like a reed
And for spreading out (C)sackcloth and ashes as a bed?
Will you call this a fast, even an (D)acceptable day to Yahweh?
Is this not the fast which I choose,
To (E)loosen the bonds of wickedness,
To release the bands of [b]the yoke,
And to (F)let the oppressed go free
And (G)break every [c]yoke?

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 58:5 Lit his
  2. Isaiah 58:6 Lit the bar of the yoke
  3. Isaiah 58:6 Lit the bar of the yoke

Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,(A)
    and in striking each other with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today
    and expect your voice to be heard(B) on high.
Is this the kind of fast(C) I have chosen,
    only a day for people to humble(D) themselves?
Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed(E)
    and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?(F)
Is that what you call a fast,
    a day acceptable to the Lord?

“Is not this the kind of fasting(G) I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice(H)
    and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed(I) free
    and break every yoke?(J)

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