Isaiah

Cry with full throat, without restraint;Raise your voice like a ram’s horn!Declare to My people their transgression,To the House of Jacob their sin.

To be sure, they seek Me daily,Eager to learn My ways.Like a nation that does what is right,That has not abandoned the laws of its God,They ask Me for the right way,They are eager for the nearness of God:

“Why, when we fasted, did You not see?When we starved our bodies, did You pay no heed?”Because on your fast dayYou see to your businessAnd oppress all your laborers!

Because you fast in strife and contention,And you strike with a wicked fist!Your fasting today is not suchAs to make your voice heard on high.

Is such the fast I desire,A day for people to starve their bodies?Is it bowing the head like a bulrushAnd lying in sackcloth and ashes?Do you call that a fast,A day when GOD is favorable?

No, this is the fast I desire:To unlock fetters of wickedness,And untie the cords of the yokeathe yoke Change of vocalization yields “lawlessness”; cf. muṭṭeh, Ezek. 9.9. To let the oppressed go free;To break off every yoke.

It is to share your bread with the hungry,And to take the wretched poor into your home;When you see the naked, to clothe them,And not to ignore your own kin.

Then shall your light burst through like the dawnAnd your healing spring up quickly;Your Vindicator shall march before you,The Presence of GOD shall be your rear guard.

Then, when you call, GOD will answer;When you cry, [God] will say: Here I am.If you banish the yokebthe yoke See note at v. 6. from your midst,The menacing hand,cThe menacing hand Lit. “Extending the finger.” and evil speech,

And you offer your compassiondcompassion Some Heb. mss. and ancient versions read “bread.” to the hungryAnd satisfy the famished creature—Then shall your light shine in darkness,And your gloom shall be like noonday.

GOD will guide you always—Slaking your thirst in parched placeseparched places Meaning of Heb. uncertain. And giving strength to your bones.You shall be like a watered garden,Like a spring whose waters do not fail.

Some from your midst shall rebuild ancient ruins,You shall restore foundations laid long ago.And you shall be called“Repairer of fallen walls,Restorer of lanes for habitation.”

If you refrain from tramplingfrefrain from trampling Lit. “turn back your foot from.” the sabbath,From pursuing your affairs on My holy day;If you call the sabbath “delight,” GOD ’s holy day “honored”;And if you honor it and go not your waysNor look to your affairs, nor strike bargains—

Then you can seek GOD’s favor.gcan seek GOD’s favor. Cf. Ps. 37.4; Job 22.26–27; 27.10. I will set you astride the heights of the earth,And let you enjoy the heritage of your father Jacob—For GOD’s mouth has spoken.