Isaiah 58:3

'Why have we fasted,' they say, 'but you do not see it? Why have we humbled ourselves, but you do not notice?' 1 Look, on the day of your fast you find your own pleasure and oppress all your laborers. 1

Unlocked Literal Bible

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

2Yet they seek me daily and delight in the knowledge of my ways, 1 like a nation that practiced righteousness and did not abandon the law of their God. 1 They ask me for righteous judgments; they take pleasure in the thought of God coming near. 1

4Look, you fast to quarrel and fight, and to hit with your fist of wickedness; 1 you do not fast today to make your voice heard above. 1

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Cross References

Exodus 2:23A long time later, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned because of the slave labor. They cried out for help, and their pleas went up to God because of their bondage.

Leviticus 16:31It is a solemn Sabbath of rest for you, and you must humble yourselves and do no work. This will always be a statute among you.

Numbers 23:4While he was on the hilltop, God met him, and Balaam said to him, “I have built seven altars, and I have offered up a bull and a ram on each one.”

Job 34:9For he has said, 'It is no use to a person 1 to take pleasure in doing what God wants.' 1

Proverbs 28:9If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, 1 even his prayer is detestable. 1

Isaiah 47:6I was angry with my people; I defiled my heritage 1 and gave them over into your hand, but you showed them no mercy; 1 you placed a very heavy yoke on the old people. 1

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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