Isaiah 58:3

They say, Why have we kept ourselves from food, and you do not see it? why have we kept ourselves from pleasure, and you take no note of it? If, in the days when you keep from food, you take the chance to do your business, and get in your debts;

Bible in Basic English

In The King James Version

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.

In Context

2Though they make prayer to me every day, and take pleasure in the knowledge of my ways: like a nation which has done righteousness, and has not given up the rules of their God, they make requests to me for the right orders, it is their delight to come near to God.

4If keeping from food makes you quickly angry, ready for fighting and giving blows with evil hands; your holy days are not such as to make your voice come to my ears on high.

Read all of Isaiah 58

Cross References

Exodus 2:23Now after a long time the king of Egypt came to his end: and the children of Israel were crying in their grief under the weight of their work, and their cry for help came to the ears of God.

Leviticus 16:31It is a special Sabbath for you, and you are to keep yourselves from pleasure; it is an order for ever.

Numbers 23:4And God came to Balaam, and Balaam said to him, I have made ready seven altars, offering an ox and a male sheep on every altar.

Job 34:9For he has said, It is no profit to a man to take delight in God.

Proverbs 28:9As for the man whose ear is turned away from hearing the law, even his prayer is disgusting.

Isaiah 47:6I was angry with my people, I put shame on my heritage, and gave them into your hands: you had no mercy on them; you put a cruel yoke on those who were old;

Matthew Henry on Isaiah 58:2-3

A Charge against the People. ( b. c. 706.) 1 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. 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. When our Lord Jesus promised to send the Comforter he added, When he shall come he shall convince ( John xvi. 7, 8 ); for… Read the whole commentary →

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