Isaiah 58:3

58:3 They lament, ¹  ‘Why don’t you notice when we fast?

Why don’t you pay attention when we humble ourselves?’

Look, at the same time you fast, you satisfy your selfish desires, ² 

you oppress your workers. ³ 

Isaiah 58:5-9

58:5 Is this really the kind of fasting I want? ⁴ 

Do I want a day when people merely humble themselves, ⁵ 

bowing their heads like a reed

and stretching out ⁶  on sackcloth and ashes?

Is this really what you call a fast,

a day that is pleasing to the Lord?

58:6 No, this is the kind of fast I want. ⁷ 

I want you ⁸  to remove the sinful chains,

to tear away the ropes of the burdensome yoke,

to set free the oppressed, ⁹ 

and to break every burdensome yoke.

58:7 I want you ¹⁰  to share your food with the hungry

and to provide shelter for homeless, oppressed people. ¹¹ 

When you see someone naked, clothe him!

Don’t turn your back on your own flesh and blood! ¹² 

58:8 Then your light will shine like the sunrise; ¹³ 

your restoration will quickly arrive; ¹⁴ 

your godly behavior ¹⁵  will go before you,

and the Lord’s splendor will be your rear guard. ¹⁶ 

58:9 Then you will call out, and the Lord will respond;

you will cry out, and he will reply, ‘Here I am.’

You must ¹⁷  remove the burdensome yoke from among you

and stop pointing fingers and speaking sinfully.

[58:3]  ¹ tn The words “they lament” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[58:3]  ² tn Heb “you find pleasure”; NASB “you find your desire.”

[58:3]  ³ tn Or perhaps, “debtors.” See HALOT 865 s.v. * עָצֵב.

[58:5]  ⁴ tn Heb “choose” (so NASB, NRSV); NAB “wish.”

[58:5]  ⁵ tn Heb “a day when man humbles himself.” The words “Do I want” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[58:5]  ⁶ tn Or “making [their] bed.”

[58:6]  ⁷ tn Heb “Is this not a fast I choose?” “No” is supplied in the translation for clarification.

[58:6]  ⁸ tn The words “I want you” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[58:6]  ⁹ tn Heb “crushed.”

[58:7]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “Is it not?” The rhetorical question here expects a positive answer, “It is!”

[58:7]  ¹¹ tn Heb “and afflicted [ones], homeless [ones] you should bring [into] a house.” On the meaning of מְרוּדִים (mÿrudim, “homeless”) see HALOT 633 s.v. *מָרוּד.

[58:7]  ¹² tn Heb “and from your flesh do not hide yourself.”

[58:8]  ¹³ tn Heb “will burst out like the dawn.”

[58:8]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “prosper”; KJV “spring forth speedily.”

[58:8]  ¹⁵ tn Or “righteousness.” Their godly behavior will be on display for all to see.

[58:8]  ¹⁶ sn The nation will experience God’s protective presence.

[58:9]  ¹⁷ tn Heb “if you.” In the Hebrew text vv. 9b-10 are one long conditional sentence. The protasis (“if” clauses appear in vv. 9b-10a), with the apodosis (“then” clause) appearing in v. 10b.