New Living Translation

1 “Shout with the voice of a trumpet blast.<br>Shout aloud! Don’t be timid.<br>Tell my people Israel of their sins!<br> 2 Yet they act so pious!<br>They come to the Temple every day<br>and seem delighted to learn all about me.<br>They act like a righteous nation<br>that would never abandon the laws of its God (Elohim).<br>They ask me to take action on their behalf,<br>pretending they want to be near me.<br> 3 ‘We have fasted before you!’ they say.<br>‘Why aren’t you impressed?<br>We have been very hard on ourselves,<br>and you don’t even notice it!’<br> “I will tell you why!” I respond.<br>“It’s because you are fasting to please yourselves.<br>Even while you fast,<br>you keep oppressing your workers.<br> 4 What good is fasting<br>when you keep on fighting and quarreling?<br>This kind of fasting<br>will never get you anywhere with me.<br> 5 You humble yourselves<br>by going through the motions of penance,<br>bowing your heads<br>like reeds bending in the wind.<br>You dress in burlap<br>and cover yourselves with ashes.<br>Is this what you call fasting?<br>Do you really think this will please the LORD?<br> 6 “No, this is the kind of fasting I want:<br>Free those who are wrongly imprisoned;<br>lighten the burden of those who work for you.<br>Let the oppressed go free,<br>and remove the chains that bind people.<br> 7 Share your food with the hungry,<br>and give shelter to the homeless.<br>Give clothes to those who need them,<br>and do not hide from relatives who need your help.<br> 8 “Then your salvation will come like the dawn,<br>and your wounds will quickly heal.<br>Your godliness will lead you forward,<br>and the glory of the LORD will protect you from behind.<br> 9 Then when you call, the LORD will answer.<br>‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.<br> “Remove the heavy yoke of oppression.<br>Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors!<br> 10 Feed the hungry,<br>and help those in trouble.<br>Then your light will shine out from the darkness,<br>and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.<br> 11 The LORD will guide you continually,<br>giving you water when you are dry<br>and restoring your strength.<br>You will be like a well-watered garden,<br>like an ever-flowing spring.<br> 12 Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities.<br>Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls<br>and a restorer of homes.<br> 13 “Keep the Sabbath day holy.<br>Don’t pursue your own interests on that day,<br>but enjoy the Sabbath<br>and speak of it with delight as the LORD’s holy day.<br>Honor the Sabbath in everything you do on that day,<br>and don’t follow your own desires or talk idly.<br> 14 Then the LORD will be your delight.<br>I will give you great honor<br>and satisfy you with the inheritance I promised to your ancestor Jacob.<br>I, the LORD, have spoken!”<br>