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Isaiah

Prophecies about judgment and salvation, promising hope and a savior.

Chapter 58

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1 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

*Shout loudly, don't hold back, speak out like a horn, and show my people their wrongdoings, and the family of Jacob their mistakes.

2 Yet 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.

*They look for me every day and want to learn how I work, like a nation that does what is right and never leaves my rules. They ask me for fairness and enjoy coming closer to God.

3 Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.

*Why have we fasted, they ask, yet you don't notice? Why have we put ourselves through pain, and you remain unaware? Look, on the day you fast, you enjoy yourself and demand all your work be done.

4 Behold, 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.

*Look, you fast to argue and fight, using evil strength. You can't fast like that anymore to have your prayers heard by God.

5 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?

*Is this the kind of fast I want? A day for people to show sadness? Is it to lower their heads like a plant called bulrush, and sit on sackcloth and ashes? Will you think this is a good fast and an acceptable day to God?

6 Is 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?

*Isn't this the kind of fasting I want? To free people from wrongdoing, to remove heavy burdens, to set free those who are treated unfairly, and to break all chains?

7 Is 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?

*Isn't it right to give food to those who are hungry and invite homeless poor people into your home? When you see someone without clothes, should you not help them by providing clothing? And shouldn't you show compassion to your fellow human beings?

8 Then 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.

*Then your light will shine like the sunrise, and your well-being will come quickly. Your righteous actions will lead the way, and the greatness of God will be your reward.

9 Then 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;

*Then you will call out, and the Lord will respond; you will shout, and He will say, "I'm here." If you remove from among you the burden, the hand gesture, and empty talk.

10 And 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:

*If you help the hungry and comfort the sad, your life will improve and shine bright like a sunny day.

11 And 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.

*The Lord will always lead you and provide for your needs, even during tough times. You will become strong and healthy, like a well-watered garden that never runs out of water.

12 And 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.

*And those who come from you will rebuild the abandoned areas: you will restore the foundations of past generations; and you will be known as the one who fixes broken places and brings back safe paths for people to live on.

13 If 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:

*If you stop doing what you want on the Sabbath, and instead consider it a joyful time for the Lord, honoring Him by not following your own desires or interests, and not talking as you usually do.

14 Then 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.

*Then you will be happy in God, and he will let you ride on the highest places on earth, and give you good food from the land that belongs to your father Jacob, because God has said it himself.

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* work in progress, there will be mistakes

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