The Lord Desires Genuine Devotion
58:1 “Shout loudly! Don’t be quiet!
Yell as loud as a trumpet!
Confront my people with their rebellious deeds,1
confront Jacob’s family with their sin!2
58:2 They seek me day after day,
they want to know my requirements,3
like a nation that does what is right,
and does not reject the law of their God.
They ask me for just decrees,
they want to be near God.
58:3 They lament,4
‘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,5
you oppress your workers.6
58:4 Look, your fasting is accompanied by7
arguments, brawls,
and fist fights.8
Do not fast as you do today,
trying to make your voice heard in heaven.
58:5 Is this really the kind of fasting I want?9
Do I want a day when people just humble themselves,10
bowing their heads like a reed,
and stretching out11
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.12
I want you13
to remove the sinful chains,
to tear away the ropes of the burdensome yoke,
to set free the oppressed,14
and to break every burdensome yoke.
58:7 I want you15
to share your food with the hungry,
and to provide shelter for homeless, oppressed people.16
When you see someone naked, clothe him!
Don’t turn your back on your own flesh and blood!17
58:8 Then your light will shine like the sunrise,18
your restoration will quickly arrive;19
your godly behavior20
will go before you,
and the LORD’s splendor will be your rearguard.21
58:9 Then you will call out, and the LORD will respond,
you will cry out, and he will reply, ‘Here I am.’
You must22
remove the burdensome yoke from your midst,
and stop pointing fingers and speaking sinfully.
58:10 You must23
actively help the hungry,
and feed the oppressed.24
Then your light will dispel the darkness,25
and your darkness will be transformed into noonday.26
58:11 The LORD will continually lead you,
he will feed you even in parched regions.27
He will give you renewed strength,28
and you will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring that continually produces water.
58:12 Your perpetual ruins will be rebuilt,29
you will reestablish the ancient foundations.
You will be called, ‘The one who repairs broken walls,
the one who makes the ruins livable again.’30
58:13 You must31
observe the Sabbath,32
rather than doing anything you want on my holy day.33
You must look forward to the Sabbath,34
and treat the LORD’s holy day with respect.35
You must treat it with respect by refraining from your normal activities,
and by refraining from your selfish pursuits and from making business deals.36
58:14 Then you will find joy in your relationship
to the LORD,37
and I will give you great prosperity,38
and cause crops to grow on the land I gave to your father Jacob.”39
Know for certain that the LORD has spoken.40