Isaiah 56

Salvation for Foreigners

1. Thus says the Lord: 1 “Keep justice, and do righteousness, 1 for soon my salvation will come, 1 and my righteousness be revealed.

2. Blessed is the man who does this, 2 and the son of man who holds it fast, 2 who keeps the Sabbath, not profaning it, 2 and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”

3. Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say, 3 “The Lord will surely separate me from his people”; 3 and let not the eunuch say, 3 “Behold, I am a dry tree.”

4. For thus says the Lord: 4 “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, 4 who choose the things that please me 4 and hold fast my covenant,

5. I will give in my house and within my walls 5 a monument and a name 5 better than sons and daughters; 5 I will give them an everlasting name 5 that shall not be cut off.

6. “And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, 6 to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, 6 and to be his servants, 6 everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it, 6 and holds fast my covenant—

7. these I will bring to my holy mountain, 7 and make them joyful in my house of prayer; 7 their burnt offerings and their sacrifices 7 will be accepted on my altar; 7 for my house shall be called a house of prayer 7 for all peoples.”

8. The Lord God, 8 who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares, 8 “I will gather yet others to him 8 besides those already gathered.”

Israel's Irresponsible Leaders

9. All you beasts of the field, come to devour— 9 all you beasts in the forest.

10. His watchmen are blind; 10 they are all without knowledge; 10 they are all silent dogs; 10 they cannot bark, 10 dreaming, lying down, 10 loving to slumber.

11. The dogs have a mighty appetite; 11 they never have enough. 11 But they are shepherds who have no understanding; 11 they have all turned to their own way, 11 each to his own gain, one and all.

12. “Come,” they say, “let me get wine; 12 let us fill ourselves with strong drink; 12 and tomorrow will be like this day, 12 great beyond measure.”