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. {labours: or, things wherewith ye grieve others: Heb. griefs}

They are corrupt, and speak wickedly {concerning} oppression: they speak loftily.

And it shall come to pass at that time, {that} I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil. {settled: Heb. curded, or, thickened}

For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? {and}, What profit shall I have, {if I be cleansed} from my sin? {if...: or, by it more than by my sin}

{And} to speak unto the priests which {were} in the house of the LORD of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years?

Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye {even} to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:

For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.

Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them? {for: or, to}

Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and {your} joy to heaviness.

Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

So that a man shall say, Verily {there is} a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth. {a reward...: Heb. fruit of the, etc}

If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion {is} vain.

Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.

But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel.

Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

And Esau said, Behold, I {am} at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? {at...: Heb. going to die}

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. {labours: or, things wherewith ye grieve others: Heb. griefs}

For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.

Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:

And it shall come to pass at that time, {that} I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil. {settled: Heb. curded, or, thickened}

Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them? {for: or, to}

For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? {and}, What profit shall I have, {if I be cleansed} from my sin? {if...: or, by it more than by my sin}

Verily I have cleansed my heart {in} vain, and washed my hands in innocency.

If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die. {after...: or, to speak after the manner of men}

Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching {for} doctrines the commandments of men.

But in vain they do worship me, teaching {for} doctrines the commandments of men.

Saying, These last have wrought {but} one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. {have wrought...: or, have continued one hour only}

And he answering said to {his} father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:

And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?

Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words. {Let there...: Heb. Let the work be heavy upon the men}

For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.

What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit {is there} of circumcision?