58:6 No, this is the kind of fast I want. 1
I want you 2 to remove the sinful chains,
to tear away the ropes of the burdensome yoke,
to set free the oppressed, 3
and to break every burdensome yoke.
58:7 I want you 4 to share your food with the hungry
and to provide shelter for homeless, oppressed people. 5
When you see someone naked, clothe him!
Don’t turn your back on your own flesh and blood! 6
58:8 Then your light will shine like the sunrise; 7
your restoration will quickly arrive; 8
your godly behavior 9 will go before you,
and the Lord’s splendor will be your rear guard. 10
1 tn Heb “Is this not a fast I choose?” “No” is supplied in the translation for clarification.
2 tn The words “I want you” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
3 tn Heb “crushed.”
4 tn Heb “Is it not?” The rhetorical question here expects a positive answer, “It is!”
5 tn Heb “and afflicted [ones], homeless [ones] you should bring [into] a house.” On the meaning of מְרוּדִים (mÿrudim, “homeless”) see HALOT 633 s.v. *מָרוּד.
6 tn Heb “and from your flesh do not hide yourself.”
7 tn Heb “will burst out like the dawn.”
sn Light here symbolizes God’s favor and restored blessing, as the immediately following context makes clear.
8 tn Heb “prosper”; KJV “spring forth speedily.”
9 tn Or “righteousness.” Their godly behavior will be on display for all to see.
10 sn The nation will experience God’s protective presence.