But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.
When they were sick ... I humbled - `afflicted' (cf. Isaiah 58:3-6). As if their sickness was my own, I chastened my spirit with outward exercises of penitence. Times of sickness should be times of humiliation for sin, which is the original cause of all sickness. None ever realized this perfect union with the sufferings and sins of man as did Jesus, who "Himself took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses" (Matthew 8:17). He especially returned good for evil, weeping over the city, which was about to be His murderer, and praying for them who did the awful deed (Luke 19:41-44; Luke 13:34); whereas His enemies 'rewarded Him evil for good' (John 10:32; John 15:25).
My prayer returned bosom Since my compassion can be of no avail to my enemies through their wicked My prayer returned ... bosom. Since my compassion can be of no avail to my enemies, through their wicked perversity, at least it shall be of avail to me with God, who shall be stirred up thereby to interpose in my behalf (Muis). (Isaiah 49:4-5.) My prayers and fastings returned to me without having any effect in melting them, like a present sent to an ungrateful person, which, instead of receiving it with gratitude, he sends back to the giver (Hammond). The fold of the garment, at the 'bosom' or lap, was used as the receptacle for any gift or payment (cf. Isaiah 65:6-7, "I will measure their work into their bosom;" Jeremiah 32:18; Psalms 79:12; Ecclesiastes 7:9). The phrase is best illustrated by Matthew 10:13; Luke 10:6, after directing the disciples in their mission to pray on entering a house, "Peace be to this house," Jesus adds, "if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again."