The True Fast
Isaiah 58
The Lord confronts a people who fast and yet pursue their own pleasure and oppress their workers, declaring that the fast he has chosen is to loose the bonds of injustice, feed the hungry, and clothe the naked. Those who do so are promised that their light will break forth like the morning and that keeping the sabbath as a delight will bring them to feed on the heritage of Jacob.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonCRY aloud and spare not; raise thy voice like a trumpet: proclaim to My people their sins, and to the house of Jacob their iniquities.
BrentonCry aloud, and spare not; lift up thy voice as with a trumpet, and declare to my people their sins, and to the house of Jacob their iniquities.
GreekἈναβοήσον ἐν ἰσχύϊ, καὶ μὴ φείσῃ, ὡς σάλπιγγι ὕψωσον τὴν φωνήν σου καὶ ἀνάγγειλον τῷ λαῷ μου τὰ ἁμαρτήματα αὐτῶν, καὶ τῷ οἴκῳ Ἰακὼβ τὰς ἀνομίας αὐτῶν.
KJVCry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.
JPSCry aloud, spare not, Lift up they voice like a horn, And declare unto My people their transgression, And to the house of Jacob their sins.
2
ThomsonDay after day they seek Me, and desire to know My ways, like a people who have practised righteousness, and who have not forsaken the ordinance of God. They now ask of Me a just decision and desire to draw near to God,
BrentonThey seek me day by day, and desire to know my ways, as a people that had done righteousness, and had not forsaken the judgment of their God: they now ask of me righteous judgment, and desire to draw nigh to God,
GreekἘμὲ ἡμέραν ἐξ ἡμέρας ζητοῦσι, καὶ γνῶναί μου τὰς ὁδοὺς ἐπιθυμοῦσιν, ὡς λαὸς δικαιοσύνην πεποιηκὼς καὶ κρίσιν Θεοῦ αὐτοῦ μὴ ἐγκαταλελοιπώς· αἰτοῦσί με νῦν κρίσιν δικαίαν, καὶ ἐγγίζειν Θεῷ ἐπιθυμοῦσι,
KJVYet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.
JPSYet they seek Me daily, And delight to know My ways; As a nation that did righteousness, And forsook not the ordinance of their God, They ask of Me righteous ordinances, They delight to draw near unto God.
3
Thomsonsaying, Why have we fasted and Thou hast not seen? We have humbled our souls and Thou hast not known. In the very days of your fasts you enjoy your own pleasures and goad all them who are under your control.
Brentonsaying, Why have we fasted, and thou regardest not? why have we afflicted our souls, and thou didst not know it? Nay, in the days of your fasts ye find your pleasures, and all them that are under your power ye wound.
Greekλέγοντες, τί ὅτι ἐνηστεύσαμεν, καὶ οὐκ εἶδες; ἐταπεινώσαμεν τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν, καὶ οὐκ ἔγνως; Ἐν γὰρ ταῖς ἡμέραις τῶν νηστειῶν ὑμῶν εὑρίσκετε τὰ θελήματα ὑμῶν, καὶ πάντας τοὺς ὑποχειρίους ὑμῶν ὑπονύσσετε.
KJV—
JPS—
4
ThomsonYou fast for strife and debate; and smite the poor with your fists. Why fast ye for Me as to-day that by a cry your voice may be heard?
BrentonIf ye fast for quarrels and strifes, and smite the lowly with your fists, wherefore do ye fast to me as ye do this day, so that your voice may be heard in crying?
GreekΕἰ εἰς κρίσεις καὶ μάχας νηστεύετε, καὶ τύπτετε πυγμαῖς ταπεινὸν, ἱνατί μοι νηστεύετε ὡς σήμερον, ἀκουσθῆναι ἐν κραυγῇ τὴν φωνὴν ὑμῶν;
KJVBehold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.
JPSBehold, ye fast for strife and contention, And to smite with the fist of wickedness; Ye fast not this day So as to make your voice to be heard on high.
5
ThomsonThis is not such a fast as I have chosen, that a man should afflict his soul for a day. No: though thou shouldst bend thy neck like a hook and lay sackcloth and ashes under thee: even in that case you are not to call it an acceptable fast.
BrentonI have not chosen this fast, nor such a day for a man to afflict his soul; neither though thou shouldest bend down thy neck as a ring, and spread under thee sackcloth and ashes, neither thus shall ye call a fast acceptable.
GreekΟὐ ταύτην τὴν νηστείαν ἐξελεξάμην, καὶ ἡμέραν ταπεινοῦν ἄνθρωπον τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ· οὐδʼ ἂν κάμψῃς ὡς κρίκον τὸν τράχηλόν σου, καὶ σάκκον καὶ σποδὸν ὑποστρώσῃ, οὐδʼ οὕτω καλέσετε νηστείαν δεκτήν.
KJVIs 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?
JPSIs 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 bulrush, And to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Wilt thou call this a fast, And an acceptable day to the LORD?
6
ThomsonIt is not such a fast as this that I have chosen, saith the Lord. But loose every bond of iniquity; dissolve the obligations of onerous contracts; set at liberty them who are oppressed, and tear in pieces every unjust stipulation in writing:
BrentonI have not chosen such a fast, saith the Lord; but do thou loose every burden of iniquity, do thou untie the knots of hard bargains, set the bruised free, and cancel every unjust account.
GreekΟὐχὶ τοιαύτην νηστείαν ἐξελεξάμην, λέγει Κύριος· ἀλλὰ λύε πάντα σύνδεσμον ἀδικίας, διάλυε στραγγαλιὰς βιαίων συναλλαγμάτων, ἀπόστελλε τεθραυσμένους ἐν ἀφέσει, καὶ πᾶσαν συγγραφὴν ἄδικον διάσπα.
KJVIs not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
JPSIs not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the fetters of wickedness, To undo the bands of the yoke, And to let the oppressed go free, And that ye break every yoke?
7
Thomsondeal out thy bread to the hungry, and take into thy house the poor who have no shelter; if thou seest one naked, clothe him, and look not scornfully on dependants of thy race;
BrentonBreak thy bread to the hungry, and lead the unsheltered poor to thy house: if thou seest one naked, clothe him, and thou shalt not disregard the relations of thine own seed.
GreekΔιάθρυπτε πεινῶντι τὸν ἄρτον σου, καὶ πτωχοὺς ἀστέγους εἴσαγε εἰς τὸν οἶκόν σου· ἐὰν ἴδῃς γυμνὸν, περίβαλε, καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν οἰκείων τοῦ σπέρματός σου οὐχ ὑπερόψει.
KJVIs it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
JPSIs it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, And that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? When thou seest the naked, that thou cover him, And that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
8
Thomsonthen shall thy light break forth like the morning, and thy remedies shall spring up speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee, and the glory of the Lord will surround thee.
BrentonThen shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thy health shall speedily spring forth: and thy righteousness shall go before thee, and the glory of God shall compass thee.
GreekΤότε ῥαγήσεται πρώϊμον τὸ φῶς σου, καὶ τὰ ἰάματά σου ταχὺ ἀνατελεῖ· καὶ προπορεύσεται ἔμπροσθέν σου ἡ δικαιοσύνη σου, καὶ ἡ δόξα τοῦ Θεοῦ περιστελεῖ σε.
KJVThen shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.
JPSThen shall thy light break forth as the morning, And thy healing shall spring forth speedily; And thy righteousness shall go before thee, The glory of the LORD shall be thy rearward.
9
ThomsonThen thou shalt cry and God will answer thee; and whilst thou art speaking He will say, Lo I am here.
BrentonThen shalt thou cry, and God shall hearken to thee; while thou art yet speaking he will say, Behold, I am here. If thou remove from thee the band, and the stretching forth of the hands, and murmuring speech;
GreekΤότε βοήσῃ, καὶ ὁ Θεὸς εἰσακούσεταί σου, ἔτι λαλοῦντός σου ἐρεῖ, ἰδοὺ, πάρειμι· ἐὰν ἀφέλῃς ἀπὸ σοῦ σύνδεσμον, καὶ χειροτονίαν, καὶ ῥῆμα γογγυσμοῦ,
KJVThen shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;
JPSThen shalt thou call, and the LORD will answer; Thou shalt cry, and He will say: ‘Here I am.’ If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, The putting forth of the finger, and speaking wickedness;
10
ThomsonIf thou remove from thee the bond and the vote and decree which cause murmuring complaints, and from thy soul give bread to the hungry and satisfy an afflicted soul; then shall thy light spring up in darkness; and thy darkness shall be as the noon day:
Brentonand if thou give bread to the hungry from thy heart, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light spring up in darkness, and thy darkness shall be as noon-day:
Greekκαὶ δῷς πεινῶντι τὸν ἄρτον ἐκ ψυχῆς σου, καὶ ψυχὴν τεταπεινωμένην ἐμπλήσῃς, τότε ἀνατελεῖ ἐν τῷ σκότει τὸ φῶς σου, καὶ τὸ σκότος σου ὡς μεσημβρία,
KJVAnd if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day:
JPSAnd if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, And satisfy the afflicted soul; Then shall thy light rise in darkness, And thy gloom be as the noon-day;
11
Thomsonand thy God will be with thee continually; and thou shalt be satisfied as thy soul desireth; and thy bones shall be made fat and be like a watered garden, and like a spring whose water never failed.
Brentonand thy God shall be with thee continually, and thou shalt be satisfied according as thy soul desires; and thy bones shall be made fat, and shall be as a well-watered garden, and as a fountain from which the water has not failed.
Greekκαὶ ἔσται ὁ Θεός σου μετὰ σοῦ διαπαντός· καὶ ἐμπλησθήσῃ καθάπερ ἐπιθυμεῖ ἡ ψυχή σου, καὶ τὰ ὀστᾶ σου πιανθήσεται· καὶ ἔσται ὡς κῆπος μεθύων, καὶ ὡς πηγὴ ἣν μὴ ἐξέλιπεν ὕδωρ·
KJVAnd the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
JPSAnd the LORD will guide thee continually, And satisfy thy soul in drought, And make strong thy bones; And thou shalt be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
12
ThomsonAnd thine old waste places shall be rebuilded; and thy foundations shall last for generations of generations: and thou shalt be called the repairer of breaches, and shalt enjoy rest in the midst of thy paths.
BrentonAnd thy old waste desert places shall be built up, and thy foundations shall last through all generations; and thou shalt be called a repairer of breaches, and thou shalt cause thy paths between to be in peace.
GreekΚαὶ οἰκοδομηθήσονταί σου αἱ ἔρημοι αἰώνιοι, καὶ ἔσται τὰ θεμέλιά σου αἰώνια γενεῶν γενεαῖς, καὶ κληθήσῃ οἰκοδόμος φραγμῶν, καὶ τὰς τρίβους σου ἀναμέσον παύσεις.
KJVAnd they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.
JPSAnd they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places, Thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; And thou shalt be called The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.
13
ThomsonIf on account of the sabbaths thou restrain thy foot from doing thy pleasure on that holy day; and call the sabbaths delightful, dedicated to God; and wilt not lift up thy foot for any work; nor utter a word in anger from thy mouth;
BrentonIf thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, so as not to do thy pleasure on the holy days, and shalt call the sabbaths delightful, holy to God; if thou shalt not lift up thy foot to work, nor speak a word in anger out of thy mouth,
GreekἘὰν ἀποστρέψῃς τὸν πόδα σου ἀπὸ τῶν σαββάτων τοῦ μὴ ποιεῖν τὰ θελήματά σου ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἁγίᾳ, καὶ καλέσεις τὰ σάββατα τρυφερὰ, ἅγια τῷ Θεῷ· οὐκ ἀρεῖς τὸν πόδα σου ἐπʼ ἔργῳ, οὐδὲ λαλήσεις λόγον ἐν ὀργῇ ἐκ τοῦ στόματός σου,
KJVIf thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
JPSIf thou turn away thy foot because of the sabbath, From pursuing thy business on My holy day; And call the sabbath a delight, And the holy of the LORD honourable; And shalt honour it, not doing thy wonted ways, Nor pursuing thy business, nor speaking thereof;
14
Thomsonand trust continually in the Lord; He will then mount thee on the good places of the land and feed thee on the inheritance of thy father Jacob: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken these words.
Brentonthen shalt thou trust on the Lord; and he shall bring thee up to the good places of the land, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord has spoken this.
Greekκαὶ ἔσῃ πεποιθὼς ἐπὶ Κύριον, καὶ ἀναβιβάσει σε ἐπὶ τὰ ἀγαθὰ τῆς γῆς, καὶ ψωμιεῖ σε τὴν κληρονομίαν Ἰακὼβ τοῦ πατρός σου· τὸ γὰρ στόμα Κυρίου ἐλάλησε ταῦτα.
KJVThen shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
JPSThen shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD, And I will make thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, And I will feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father; For the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.