Isaiah 58
The Lord Desires Genuine Devotion
1 “Shout loudly! Don’t be quiet!
Yell as loud as a trumpet!
Confront my people with their rebellious deeds;t
confront Jacob’s family with their sin!t
2 They seek me day after day;
they want to know my requirements,t
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.
3 They lament,t ‘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,t
you oppress your workers.t
4 Look, your fasting is accompanied byt arguments, brawls,
and fistfights.t
Do not fast as you do today,
trying to make your voice heard in heaven.
5 Is this really the kind of fasting I want?t
Do I want a day when people merely humble themselves,t
bowing their heads like a reed
and stretching outt on sackcloth and ashes?
Is this really what you call a fast,
a day that is pleasing to the Lord?
6 No, this is the kind of fast I want.t
I want yout to remove the sinful chains,
to tear away the ropes of the burdensome yoke,
to set free the oppressed,t
and to break every burdensome yoke.
7 I want yout to share your food with the hungry
and to provide shelter for homeless, oppressed people.t
When you see someone naked, clothe him!
Don’t turn your back on your own flesh and blood!t
8 Then your light will shine like the sunrise;ts
your restoration will quickly arrive;t
your godly behaviort will go before you,
and the Lord’s splendor will be your rear guard.s
9 Then you will call out, and the Lord will respond;
you will cry out, and he will reply, ‘Here I am.’
You mustt remove the burdensome yoke from among you
and stop pointing fingers and speaking sinfully.
10 You mustt actively help the hungry
and feed the oppressed.t
Then your light will dispel the darkness,t
and your darkness will be transformed into noonday.t
11 The Lord will continually lead you;
he will feed you even in parched regions.t
He will give you renewed strength,t
and you will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring that continually produces water.
12 Your perpetual ruins will be rebuilt;t
you will reestablish the ancient foundations.
You will be called, ‘The one who repairs broken walls,
the one who makes the streets inhabitable again.’s
13 You mustt observe the Sabbatht
rather than doing anything you please on my holy day.t
You must look forward to the Sabbatht
and treat the Lord’s holy day with respect.t
You must treat it with respect by refraining from your normal activities,
and by refraining from your selfish pursuits and from making business deals.t
14 Then you will find joy in your relationship to the Lord,t
and I will give you great prosperity,t
and cause crops to grow on the land I gave to your ancestor Jacob.”t
Know for certain that the Lord has spoken.t
ISAIAH 58
True Religion
1 Shout the message!
Don't hold back.
Say to my people Israel:
You've sinned! You've turned
against the [Lord].
2 Day after day, you worship him
and seem eager to learn
his teachings.
You act like a nation
that wants to do right
by obeying his laws.
You ask him about justice,
and say you enjoy
worshiping the [Lord].
3 You wonder why the [Lord]
pays no attention
when you go without eating
and act humble.
But on those same days
that you give up eating,
you think only of yourselvest
and abuse your workers.
4 You even get angry
and ready to fight.
No wonder God won't listen
to your prayers!
5 Do you think the [Lord]
wants you to give up eating
and to act as humble
as a bent-over bush?
Or to dress in sackcloth
and sit in ashes?
Is this really what he wants
on a day of worship?
6 I'll tell you
what it really means
to worship the [Lord].
Remove the chains of prisoners
who are bound unjustly.
Free those who are abused!
7 t Share your food with everyone
who is hungry;
share your home
with the poor and homeless.
Give clothes to those in need;
don't turn away your relatives.
8 Then your light will shine
like the dawning sun, and you
will quickly be healed.
Your honestyt will protect you
as you advance,
and the glory of the [Lord]
will defend you from behind.
9 When you beg the [Lord] for help,
he will answer, “Here I am!”
Don't mistreat others
or falsely accuse them
or say something cruel.
10 Give your food to the hungry
and care for the homeless.
Then your light will shine
in the dark;
your darkest hour will be
like the noonday sun.
11 The [Lord] will always guide you
and provide good things to eat
when you are in the desert.
He will make you healthy.
You will be like a garden
that has plenty of water
or like a stream
that never runs dry.
12 You will rebuild those houses
left in ruins for years;
you will be known
as a builder and repairer
of city walls and streets.
13 But first, you must start
respecting the Sabbath
as a joyful day of worship.
You must stop doing and saying
whatever you please
on this special day.
14 Then you will truly enjoy
knowing the [Lord].
He will let you rule
from the highest mountains
and bless you with the land
of your ancestor Jacob.
The [Lord] has spoken!