1-4. Sins of Israel Are Sins Today—[Isaiah 58:1-4 quoted.] ... The house of Jacob, at the time this warning was given to Isaiah, appeared to be a very zealous people, seeking God daily, and delighting to know His ways; but in reality they were filled with presumptuous self-confidence. They were not walking in the truth. Goodness, mercy, and love were not practiced. While presenting an appearance of sorrow for their sins, they were cherishing pride and avarice. At the very time when they were showing such outward humiliation, they would exact hard labor from those under them or in their employ. They placed a high estimate on all the good that they had done, but a very low estimate on the services of others. They despised and oppressed the poor. And their fasting only gave them a higher opinion of their own goodness. {4BC 1149.8}

1-4. Israels synder er synder i dag. - [Es. 58,1-4 citeret.] . . . Jakobs hus viste sig, samtidig med at denne advarsel blev givet til Esajas, at være et meget nidkært folk, der søger Gud dagligt, og glæder sig ved at kende Hans veje; men i virkeligheden var de fyldt med formastelig selvsikkerhed. De vandrede ikke i sandhed. Godhed, barmhjertighed og kærlighed blev ikke praktiseret. Medens de gav udseende af sorg over deres synder, gemte de på stolthed og griskhed. På det tidspunkt hvor de viste en sådan ydmyghed, (1150) ville de kræve hårdt arbejde fra dem der var under, eller ansat af dem. De værdsatte alt det gode de havde gjort ret højt, men satte meget lav pris på andres tjeneste. De foragtede og undertrykte den fattige. Og deres faste gav dem kun en bedre mening om deres egen godhed.