Yǐsaìyàshū 58

1 Nǐ yào dàshēng hǎnjiào , bùkĕ zhǐxī , yáng qǐ shēng lái hǎoxiàng chuī jiǎo , xiàng wǒ bǎixìng shuō míng tāmende guo fàn , xiàng Yǎgè jiā shuō míng tāmende zuìè .

2 Tāmen tiāntiān xúnqiú wǒ , lèyì míngbai wǒde dào . hǎoxiàng xíng yì de guó mín , bù lí qì tāmen shén de diǎnzhāng , xiàng wǒ qiú wèn gōngyì de pàn yǔ , xǐyuè qīnjìn shén .

3 Tāmen shuō , wǒmen jìnshí , nǐ wèihé bú kànjian ne . wǒmen kè kǔ jǐ xīn , nǐ wèihé bù lǐ huì ne . kàn nǎ , nǐmen jìnshí de rìzi , réng qiú lì yì , lēi bī rén wèi nǐmen zuò kǔ gōng .

4 Nǐmen jìnshí , què hùxiāng zhēngjing , yǐ xiōngè de quántou dá rén . nǐmen jīnrì jìnshí , bùdé shǐ nǐmen de shēngyīn tīng wén yú shang .

5 Zhèyàng jìnshí , qǐ shì wǒ suǒ jiǎnxuǎn shǐ rén kè kǔ jǐ xīn de rìzi ma . qǐ shì jiào rén chuí tóu xiàng wĕizi , yòng má bù hé lú huī pū zaì tā yǐxià ma . nǐ zhè kĕ chēngwèi jìnshí wèi Yēhéhuá suǒ yuènà de rìzi ma .

6 Wǒ suǒ jiǎnxuǎn de jìnshí , bú shì yào sōng kāi xiōngè de shéng , jiĕ xià è shang de suǒ , shǐ beì qīyē de dé zìyóu , zhé duàn yīqiè de è ma .

7 Bú shì yào bǎ nǐde bǐng , fēn gĕi jīè de rén . jiāng piāoliú de qióngrén , jiē dào nǐ jiā zhōng . jiàn chì shēn de , gĕi tā yīfu zhē tǐ . gù xù zìjǐ de gǔròu ér bù yǎncáng ma .

8 Zhèyàng nǐde guāng jiù bì fāxiàn rú zǎochen de guāng . nǐ suǒ dé de yīzhì , yào sù sù fā míng . nǐde gōngyì , bì zaì nǐ miànqián xíng . Yēhéhuá de róngguāng , bì zuò nǐde hòu dùn .

9 Nàshí nǐ qiúgào , Yēhéhuá bì yīngyún . nǐ hū qiú , tā bì shuō , wǒ zaì zhèlǐ . nǐ ruò cóng nǐ zhōngjiān chúdiào zhòng è , hé zhǐzhāi rén de zhítou , bìng fā è yán de shì .

10 Nǐ xīn ruò xiàng jīè de rén fā liánmǐn , shǐ kùnkǔ de rén dé mǎnzū . nǐde guāng jiù bì zaì hēiàn zhōng fāxiàn , nǐde yōuàn bì biàn rú zhēng wǔ .

11 Yēhéhuá yĕ bì shícháng yǐndǎo nǐ , zaì gān hàn zhī dì , shǐ nǐ xīn mǎn yì zú , gútou qiángzhuàng . nǐ bì xiàng jiāo guàn de yuánzi , yòu xiàng shuǐ liú bù jué de quányuán .

12 Nàxiē chūyú nǐde rén , bì xiūzào jiǔ yǐ huāng feì zhī chù . nǐ yào jiànlì chāihuǐ léi daì de gēnjī . nǐ bì chēngwèi bǔ pò kǒu de , hé zhòng xiū lù jìng yǔ rén jūzhù de .

13 Nǐ ruò zaì ānxīrì diào zhuǎn ( huò zuò jǐnshèn ) nǐde jiǎobù , zaì wǒ shèng rì bù yǐ cāozuò wèi xǐlè , chēng ānxīrì wèi kĕ xǐlè de , chēng Yēhéhuá de shèng rì wèi kĕ zūnzhòng de . érqiĕ zūnjìng zhè rì , bú bàn zìjǐ de sī shì , bú suí zìjǐ de sī yì , bú shuō zìjǐ de sī huà .

14 Nǐ jiù yǐ Yēhéhuá wéi lè . Yēhéhuá yào shǐ nǐ shèng jià dì de gāo chù . yòu yǐ nǐ zǔ Yǎgè de chǎnyè yǎng yù nǐ . zhè shì Yēhéhuá qéng kǒu shuō de .

Yǐsaìyàshū 58 Commentary

Chapter 58

Hypocrisy reproved. (1,2) A counterfeit and a true fast, with promises to real godliness, and, (3-12) to the keeping the sabbath. (13,14)

Verses 1-2 The Holy Spirit had hypocrites of every age in view. Self-love and timid Christians may say, Spare thyself; dislike to the cross and other motives will say, "Spare the rich and powerful;" but God says, "Spare not:" and we must obey God, not men. We all need earnestly to pray for God's assistance in examining ourselves. Men may go far toward heaven, yet come short; and they may go to hell with a good reputation.

Verses 3-12 A fast is a day to afflict the soul; if it does not express true sorrow for sin, and does not promote the putting away of sin, it is not a fast. These professors had shown sorrow on stated or occasioned fasts. But they indulged pride, covetousness, and malignant passions. To be liberal and merciful is more acceptable to God than mere fasting, which, without them, is vain and hypocritical. Many who seem humble in God's house, are hard at home, and harass their families. But no man's faith justifies, which does not work by love. Yet persons, families, neighbourhoods, churches, or nations, show repentance and sorrow for sin, by keeping a fast sincerely, and, from right motives, repenting, and doing good works. The heavy yoke of sin and oppression must be removed. As sin and sorrow dry the bones and weaken the strongest human constitution; so the duties of kindness and charity strengthen and refresh both body and mind. Those who do justly and love mercy, shall have the comfort, even in this world. Good works will bring the blessing of God, provided they are done from love to God and man, and wrought in the soul by the Holy Spirit.

Verses 13-14 The sabbath is a sign between God and his professing people; his appointing it is a sign of his favour to them; and their observing it is a sign of their obedience to him. We must turn from travelling on that day; from doing our pleasure on that holy day, without the control and restraint of conscience; or from indulging in the pleasures of sense. On sabbath days we must not follow our callings, or our pleasures. In all we say and do, we must put a difference between this day and other days. Even in Old Testament times the sabbath was called the Lord's day, and is fitly called so still; and for a further reason, it is the Lord Christ's day, ( Revelation 1:10 ) . If we thus remember the sabbath day to keep it holy, we shall have the comfort and profit of it, and have reason to say, It is good to draw near to God.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 58

From the wicked and antichristian party the prophet is bid to turn to the professors of the true religion, and openly, boldly, and sharply, reprove them for their sins, particularly their hypocrisy and formality in worship, Isa 58:1,2, who yet were angry, and complained that the Lord took no notice of their religious services, particularly their fasting, which is put for the whole; the reason of which was, because they did not fast aright; it was attended with much cruelty, strife, and wickedness, and only lay in external appearances, Isa 58:3-5, when they are directed how to keep a fast, and are shown what a true fast is, and what works and services are acceptable to God, Isa 58:6,7 on doing of which, light, health, prosperity, and hearing of their prayers, are promised, provided the yoke of oppression is taken away, and compassion shown to the poor, Isa 58:8-10, yea, a very fruitful and flourishing estate of the soul is promised, and a rebuilding of waste places, delight in the Lord, and great honour and dignity; so be it that the sabbath of the Lord, or public worship, is attended to in a proper manner, Isa 58:11-14.