A House of Prayer for All

56 This is what the Lord says:

Preserve justice and do what is right, y

for My salvation is coming soon,

and My righteousness will be revealed. z

2 Happy is the man who does this,

anyone who maintains this,

who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it,

and keeps his hand from doing any evil. a

3 No foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord

should say,

“The Lord will exclude me from His people”; b

and the eunuch should not say,

“Look, I am a dried-up tree.” c

4 For the Lord says this:

“For the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths,

and choose what pleases Me,

and hold firmly to My covenant,

5 I will give them, in My house and within My walls,

a memorial and a name

better than sons and daughters.

I will give each of them an everlasting name

that will never be cut off. d

6 And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord

minister to Him, love the name of * Yahweh

and become His servants,

all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it

and who hold firmly to My covenant—

7 I will bring them to My holy mountain e

and let them rejoice in My house of prayer.

Their * burnt offerings and sacrifices

will be acceptable on My altar, f

for My house will be called a house of prayer

for all nations.” g

8 This is the declaration of the Lord God,

who gathers the dispersed of Israel:

“I will gather to them still others

besides those already gathered.” h

Unrighteous Leaders Condemned

9 All you animals of the field and forest,

come and eat!

10 Israel’s i watchmen are blind, all of them,

they know nothing;

all of them are mute dogs,

they cannot bark;

they dream, lie down,

and love to sleep.

11 These dogs have fierce appetites;

they never have enough.

And they are shepherds

who have no discernment;

all of them turn to their own way,

every last one for his own gain. j

12 “Come, let me get some wine,

let’s guzzle some beer;

and tomorrow will be like today,

only far better!” k