<p class="poetry">Though the <sc>Lordsc> desired to crush him and make him ill,p> <p class="poetry">once restitution is made,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">he will see descendants and enjoy long life,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">and the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s purpose will be accomplished through him.p>

<p class="poetry">Why pay money for something that will not nourish you?<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Why spend<n id="2" /> your hard-earned money<n id="3" /> on something that will not satisfy?p> <p class="poetry">Listen carefully<n id="4" /> to me and eat what is nourishing!<n id="5" />p> <p class="poetry">Enjoy fine food!<n id="6" />p>

<p class="poetry">Pay attention and come to me!p> <p class="poetry">Listen, so you can live!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Then I will make an unconditional covenantal promise to<n id="2" /> you,p> <p class="poetry">just like the reliable covenantal promises I made to David.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">The dogs have big appetites;p> <p class="poetry">they are never full.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">They are shepherds who have no understanding;p> <p class="poetry">they all go their own way,p> <p class="poetry">each one looking for monetary gain.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">They lament,<n id="1" /> &#8216;Why don&#8217;t you notice when we fast?p> <p class="poetry">Why don&#8217;t you pay attention when we humble ourselves?&#8217;p> <p class="poetry">Look, at the same time you fast, you satisfy your selfish desires,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">you oppress your workers.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">The <sc>Lordsc> will continually lead you;p> <p class="poetry">he will feed you even in parched regions.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">He will give you renewed strength,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">and you will be like a well-watered garden,p> <p class="poetry">like a spring that continually produces water.p>

<p class="poetry">For a fool speaks disgraceful things;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">his mind plans out sinful deeds.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">He commits godless deeds<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">and says misleading things about the <sc>Lordsc>;p> <p class="poetry">he gives the hungry nothing to satisfy their appetite<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">and gives the thirsty nothing to drink.<n id="5" />p>

<p class="poetry">This is what the <sc>Lordsc>,p> <p class="poetry">the protector<n id="1" /> of Israel, their Holy One,<n id="2" /> saysp> <p class="poetry">to the one who is despised<n id="3" /> and rejected<n id="4" /> by nations,<n id="5" />p> <p class="poetry">a servant of rulers:p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;Kings will see and rise in respect,<n id="6" />p> <p class="poetry">princes will bow down,p> <p class="poetry">because of the faithful <sc>Lordsc>,p> <p class="poetry">the Holy One of Israel who has chosen you.&#8221;p>

<p class="poetry">So I will assign him a portion with the multitudes,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">he will divide the spoils of victory with the powerful,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">because he willingly submitted<n id="3" /> to deathp> <p class="poetry">and was numbered with the rebels,p> <p class="poetry">when he lifted up the sin of manyp> <p class="poetry">and intervened<n id="4" /> on behalf of the rebels.&#8221;p>

<p class="poetry">Is this really the kind of fasting I want?<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Do I want a day when people merely humble themselves,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">bowing their heads like a reedp> <p class="poetry">and stretching out<n id="3" /> on sackcloth and ashes?p> <p class="poetry">Is this really what you call a fast,p> <p class="poetry">a day that is pleasing to the <sc>Lordsc>?p>

<p class="poetry">I<n id="1" /> will greatly rejoice<n id="2" /> in the <sc>Lordsc>;p> <p class="poetry">I will be overjoyed because of my God.<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">For he clothes me in garments of deliverance;p> <p class="poetry">he puts on me a robe symbolizing vindication.<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">I look like a bridegroom when he wears a turban as a priest would;p> <p class="poetry">I look like a bride when she puts on her jewelry.<n id="5" />p>

<p class="poetry">The one who slaughters a bull also strikes down a man;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">the one who sacrifices a lamb also breaks a dog&#8217;s neck;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">the one who presents an offering includes pig&#8217;s blood with it;<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">the one who offers incense also praises an idol.<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">They have decided to behave this way;<n id="5" />p> <p class="poetry">they enjoy these disgusting practices.<n id="6" />p>