Isaiah 58:5-8

58:5 Is this really the kind of fasting I want? ¹ 

Do I want a day when people merely humble themselves, ² 

bowing their heads like a reed

and stretching out ³  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. ⁴ 

I want you ⁵  to remove the sinful chains,

to tear away the ropes of the burdensome yoke,

to set free the oppressed, ⁶ 

and to break every burdensome yoke.

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

and to provide shelter for homeless, oppressed people. ⁸ 

When you see someone naked, clothe him!

Don’t turn your back on your own flesh and blood! ⁹ 

58:8 Then your light will shine like the sunrise; ¹⁰ 

your restoration will quickly arrive; ¹¹ 

your godly behavior ¹²  will go before you,

and the Lord’s splendor will be your rear guard. ¹³ 

[58:5]  ¹ tn Heb “choose” (so NASB, NRSV); NAB “wish.”

[58:5]  ² tn Heb “a day when man humbles himself.” The words “Do I want” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[58:5]  ³ tn Or “making [their] bed.”

[58:6]  ⁴ tn Heb “Is this not a fast I choose?” “No” is supplied in the translation for clarification.

[58:6]  ⁵ tn The words “I want you” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[58:6]  ⁶ tn Heb “crushed.”

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

[58:7]  ⁸ 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]  ⁹ tn Heb “and from your flesh do not hide yourself.”

[58:8]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “will burst out like the dawn.”

[58:8]  ¹¹ tn Heb “prosper”; KJV “spring forth speedily.”

[58:8]  ¹² tn Or “righteousness.” Their godly behavior will be on display for all to see.

[58:8]  ¹³ sn The nation will experience God’s protective presence.