'Fast' in the Bible

You say, “No!We will escape on horses”—therefore you will escape!—and, “We will ride on fast horses”—but those who pursue you will be faster.

“Why have we fasted, but You have not seen?We have denied ourselves, but You haven’t noticed!”“Look, you do as you please on the day of your fast,and oppress all your workers.

You fast with contention and strifeto strike viciously with your fist.You cannot fast as you do today,hoping to make your voice heard on high.

Will the fast I choose be like this:A day for a person to deny himself,to bow his head like a reed,and to spread out sackcloth and ashes?Will you call this a fastand a day acceptable to the Lord?

Isn’t the fast I choose:To break the chains of wickedness,to untie the ropes of the yoke,to set the oppressed free,and to tear off every yoke?