Isaiah 58:5

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.

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.

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?

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?

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?

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Is this the fast I have chosen: a day for a man to deny himself, to bow his head like a reed, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast and a day acceptable to the LORD?
KJV
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?
WEB
Is this the fast that I have chosen? A day for a man to humble his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under himself? Will you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?
ASV
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?
DARBY
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?
BLB
Is it like this, the fast I choose? A day for a man to afflict his soul, for bowing down his head like a reed, and spreading out sackcloth and ashes—do you call this a fast, and a day of pleasure for YHWH?
ÅB
Er dette den faste jeg finner behag i, en dag da et menneske plager sin sjel? At en bøyer sitt hode som et siv og reder sin seng i sekk og aske - kaller du det en faste og en dag som behager Herren?
OTB
Er dette den slags faste jeg har valgt, en dag for en person å ydmyke seg? Er det bare for å bøye hodet som et siv og for å bre ut sekkestrie og aske? Vil dere kalle dette en faste, en dag som er akseptabel for Herren?
B1930
Er dette den faste jeg finner behag i, en dag da et menneske plager sin sjel? At en bøier sitt hode som et siv og reder sin seng i sekk og aske - kaller du det en faste og en dag som behager Herren?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Daniel 9:3–19

    And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:

    Read in context
  • Zechariah 7:5

    Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me?

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 49:8

    Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;

    Read in context
  • Esther 4:16

    Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 61:2

    To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

    Read in context
  • Romans 12:2

    And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

    Read in context
  • 2 Chronicles 20:3

    And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

    Read in context
  • Luke 4:19

    To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

    Read in context