Isaiah 58

1 “Shout aloud! Don’t hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet! Declare to my people their rebellions, ^{a58:1 So 1QIsaa LXX; 1QIsab MT read rebellion} and to the house of Jacob their sins.ISV — Isaiah 58:1

2 They ^{b58:2 So 1QIsaa 1QIsab 4QIsad LXX; MT reads And they} seek me day after day, ^{c58:2 Lit. me day and day; so 1QIsaa; 1QIsab 4QIsad MT read me day, day} and are eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that practices righteousness and has not forsaken the justice of their God. “They ask me to reveal just decisions; they are eager to draw near to God.ISV — Isaiah 58:2

3 ‘Why have we fasted,’ they ask, ^{d58:3 1QIsaa 1QIsab 4QIsad LXX MT lack they ask} ‘but you do not see? ‘Why have we humbled ourselves,’ ^{e58:3 So 1QIsaa 1QIsab LXX; MT reads ourself} they ask, ^{f58:3 1QIsaa 1QIsab 4QIsad LXX MT lack they ask} ‘but you take no notice?’” “Look! On your fast day you serve your own interest and oppress all your workers.ISV — Isaiah 58:3

4 “Look! You fast only for quarreling, and for ^{g58:4 So 1QIsab 1QIsaa; MT LXX lack for} fighting, and for hitting with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and have your voice heard on high.ISV — Isaiah 58:4

5 “Is this the kind of fast that I have chosen, merely a day for a person to humble himself? Is it merely for bowing down one’s head like a bulrush, for lying ^{h58:5 So 1QIsaa 1QIsab; MT LXX read and for lying} on sackcloth and ashes? Is this what you ^{i58:5 So 1QIsaa 4QIsad LXX (pl.); 1QIsab MT (sing.)} call a fast, an ^{j58:5 So 1QIsaa 1QIsab; MT reads and an} acceptable day to the LORD?ISV — Isaiah 58:5

6 Isn’t this the ^{k58:6 So 1QIsaa; 1QIsab MT LXX lack the} fast that ^{l58:6 So 1QIsaa; 1QIsab MT LXX lack that} I have been choosing: to loose the bonds of injustice, and ^{m58:6 So 1QIsaa; 1QIsab MT LXX lack and} to untie the cords of the yoke, and ^{n58:6 So 1QIsaa MT; 1QIsab 4QIsad LXX lack and} to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?ISV — Isaiah 58:6

7 Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, and to bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him with clothing, ^{o58:7 So 1QIsaa; 1QIsab MT LXX lack with clothing} and not to raise yourself up ^{p58:7 So 1QIsaa; 1QIsab MT read to hide yourself; LXX reads to disregard} from your own flesh and blood?”ISV — Isaiah 58:7

8 “Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will spring up quickly; and your vindication will go before you, and ^{q58:8 So 1QIsaa 1QIsab LXX; MT lacks and} the glory of the LORD will guard your back.ISV — Isaiah 58:8

9 Then you’ll call, and the LORD will answer; you’ll cry for help, and he’ll respond, ‘Here I am.’ “If you do away with the yoke among you, and ^{r58:9 So 1QIsaa LXX; 1QIsab MT lack and} pointing fingers and malicious talk;ISV — Isaiah 58:9

10 if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the needs of afflicted souls, then your light will rise in darkness, and your night will be like noonday.ISV — Isaiah 58:10

11 And the LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in parched places, ^{s58:11 1QIsaa spells the word places incorrectly} and they ^{t58:11 So 1QIsaa 1QIsab; MT reads he; LXX reads and your bones will be strengthened} will strengthen your bones; and you’ll be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail.ISV — Isaiah 58:11

12 And your people will rebuild the ancient ruins; You’ll raise up the age-old foundations, ^{u58:12 Lit. the foundations of many generations} and people will call you ^{v58:12 So 1QIsaa; 1QIsab MT LXX read you will be called} ‘Repairer of Broken Walls,’ ‘Restorer of Streets to Live In.’ISV — Isaiah 58:12

13 “If you keep your feet from trampling the Sabbath, from ^{w58:13 So 1QIsaa 4QIsan; 1QIsab MT lack from} pursuing your own interests on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and ^{x58:13 So 1QIsaa 1QIsab 4QIsan; MT LXX lack and} the LORD’s holy day honorable; and if you honor it by not going your own ways ^{y58:13 So 1QIsaa 4QIsan MT; 1QIsab reads way} and ^{z58:13 So 1QIsaa; 1QIsab MT lack and} seeking your own pleasure or speaking merely idle ^{aa58:13 1QIsaa 1QIsab 4QIsan MT LXX lack merely idle} words,ISV — Isaiah 58:13

14 then you will take delight in the LORD, and he ^{bb58:14 So 1QIsaa 1QIsab 4QIsan LXX; MT reads and I} will make you ride upon the heights of the earth; and he ^{cc58:14 So 1QIsaa LXX; 1QIsab 4QIsan MT read and I} will make you feast on the inheritance of your ancestor Jacob, your father. “Yes! The mouth of the LORD has spoken.”ISV — Isaiah 58:14