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Isaiah 58:5
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3 ‘Whya have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and1 You have not seen?
Why have we bafflicted our souls, and You take no notice?’
“In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure,
And exploit all your laborers. 
4 aIndeed you fast for strife and debate,
And to strike with the fist of wickedness.
You will not fast as you do this day,
To make your voice heard on high. 
5 Is ait a fast that I have chosen,
bA day for a man to afflict his soul?
Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush,
And cto spread out sackcloth and ashes?
Would you call this a fast,
And an acceptable day to the Lord? 
6 “Is this not the fast that I have chosen:
To aloose the bonds of wickedness,
bTo undo the1 heavy burdens,
cTo let the oppressed go free,
And that you break every yoke? 
7 Is it not ato share your bread with the hungry,
And that you bring to your house the poor who are1 cast out;
bWhen you see the naked, that you cover him,
And not hide yourself from cyour own flesh? 
8 aThen your light shall break forth like the morning,
Your healing shall spring forth speedily,
And your righteousness shall go before you;
bThe glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. 
9 The1n you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’
“If you take away the yoke from your midst,
The pointing of the finger, and aspeaking wickedness, 
10 If you extend your soul to the hungry
And satisfy the afflicted soul,
Then your light shall dawn in the darkness,
And your1 darkness shall be as the noonday. 
11 The Lord will guide you continually,
And satisfy your soul in drought,
And strengthen your bones;
You shall be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
Verse Comparison: Isaiah 58:5

<< Isaiah 58:4   Isaiah 58:6 >>

American Standard Version
Is such the fast that I have chosen? the day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head as a rush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to Jehovah?

Amplified® Bible
Is such a fast as yours what I have chosen, a day for a man to humble himself with sorrow in his soul? [Is true fasting merely mechanical?] Is it only to bow down his head like a bulrush and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him [to indicate a condition of heart that he does not have]? Will you call this a fast and an acceptable day to the Lord?

Contemporary English Version
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?

Darby English Version
Is such the fast that I have chosen, a day for a man to afflict his soul, -- that he should bow down his head as a bulrush, and spread sackcloth and ashes [under him]? Wilt thou call this a fast, and a day acceptable to Jehovah?

Good News Bible
When you fast, you make yourselves suffer; you bow your heads low like a blade of grass and spread out sackcloth and ashes to lie on. Is that what you call fasting? Do you think I will be pleased with that?

King James Version
Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?

New American Standard Bible
"Is it a fast like this which I choose, a day for a man to humble himself? Is it for bowing one's head like a reed And for spreading out sackcloth and ashes as a bed? Will you call this a fast, even an acceptable day to the LORD?

New International Version
Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
only a day for a man to humble himself?
Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed
and for lying on sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast,
a day acceptable to the LORD ?

New King James Version
Is it a fast that I have chosen,
A day for a man to afflict his soul?
Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush,
And to spread out sackcloth and ashes?
Would you call this a fast,
And an acceptable day to the LORD?

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
"Do you fast like this which I choose, a day for a man to humble himself? Do you bow one's head like a reed And for spreading out sackcloth and ashes as a bed? Will you call this a fast, even an acceptable day to the LORD?

Revised Standard Version
Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a man to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a rush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the LORD?

Young's Literal Translation
Like this is the fast that I choose? The day of a man's afflicting his soul? To bow as a reed his head, And sackcloth and ashes spread out? This dost thou call a fast, And a desirable day -- to Jehovah?

New English Translation
Is this really the kind of fasting I want?1 Do I want a day when people merely humble themselves,2 bowing their heads like a reed and stretching out3 on sackcloth and ashes? Is this really what you call a fast, a day that is pleasing to the Lord?


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