141 lines
2.8 KiB
Markdown
141 lines
2.8 KiB
Markdown
True and False Worship
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# Chapter 58
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1. "Shout with the voice of a trumpet blast.
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Shout aloud! Don't be timid.
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Tell my people Israel of their sins!
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2. Yet they act so pious!
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They come to the Temple every day
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and seem delighted to learn all about me.
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They act like a righteous nation
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that would never abandon the laws of its God.
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They ask me to take action on their behalf,
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pretending they want to be near me.
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3. 'We have fasted before you!' they say.
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'Why aren't you impressed?
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We have been very hard on ourselves,
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and you don't even notice it!'
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"I will tell you why!" I respond.
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"It's because you are fasting to please yourselves.
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Even while you fast,
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you keep oppressing your workers.
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4. What good is fasting
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when you keep on fighting and quarreling?
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This kind of fasting
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will never get you anywhere with me.
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5. You humble yourselves
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by going through the motions of penance,
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bowing your heads
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like reeds bending in the wind.
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You dress in burlap
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and cover yourselves with ashes.
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Is this what you call fasting?
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Do you really think this will please the LORD?
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6. "No, this is the kind of fasting I want:
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Free those who are wrongly imprisoned;
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lighten the burden of those who work for you.
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Let the oppressed go free,
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and remove the chains that bind people.
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7. Share your food with the hungry,
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and give shelter to the homeless.
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Give clothes to those who need them,
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and do not hide from relatives who need your help.
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8. "Then your salvation will come like the dawn,
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and your wounds will quickly heal.
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Your godliness will lead you forward,
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and the glory of the LORD will protect you from behind.
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9. Then when you call, the LORD will answer.
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'Yes, I am here,' he will quickly reply.
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"Remove the heavy yoke of oppression.
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Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors!
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10. Feed the hungry,
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and help those in trouble.
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Then your light will shine out from the darkness,
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and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.
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11. The LORD will guide you continually,
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giving you water when you are dry
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and restoring your strength.
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You will be like a well-watered garden,
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like an ever-flowing spring.
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12. Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities.
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Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls
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and a restorer of homes.
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13. "Keep the Sabbath day holy.
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Don't pursue your own interests on that day,
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but enjoy the Sabbath
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and speak of it with delight as the LORD's holy day.
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Honor the Sabbath in everything you do on that day,
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and don't follow your own desires or talk idly.
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14. Then the LORD will be your delight.
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I will give you great honor
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and satisfy you with the inheritance I promised to your ancestor Jacob.
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I, the LORD, have spoken!"
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