Isaiah 56

Salvation for All Who Obey

56Thus says Yahweh:

“Observe justice

and do righteousness,

for my salvation is close to coming,

and my justice to being revealed.

²Happy is the man who does this,

and the son of humankind who keeps hold of it,

who keeps the Sabbath so as not to profane^a it,

and who keeps his hand from doing any^b evil.”

³And do not let the foreigner^c who joins himself to Yahweh say, “Surely Yahweh will separate me from his people.”

And do not let the eunuch say, “Look! I am a dry tree!”

⁴For thus says Yahweh, “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths,

and choose that in which I delight,

and who keep hold of my covenant.

⁵And I will give them a monument and a name in my house and within my walls,

better than sons and daughters;

I will give him an everlasting name

that shall not be cut off.

⁶And the foreigners^d who join themselves to Yahweh to serve him

and to love the name of Yahweh, to become his servants,

every one who keeps the Sabbath, so as not to profane^e it,

and those who keep hold of my covenant,

⁷I will bring them to my holy mountain;^f

I will make them merry in my house of prayer.

their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted^g on my altar,

for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples,”

⁸declares^h the Lord Yahweh, who gathersⁱ the scattered ones of Israel (still I will gather to^j him, to his gathered ones).

Wicked Leaders

⁹All wild animals in the field, come,

to devour,^k all wild animals in the forest!

¹⁰His watchmen are blind,

none of them know.

They are all dumb dogs;

they are unable to bark,

panting, lying down,

loving to slumber.

¹¹And the dogs have a greedy appetite;^l

they are never satisfied.^m

And they are the shepherds!

They do not haveⁿ understanding.

They all turn to their own way,

each one for his own gain, every one of them.^o

¹²“Come, let me take wine,

and let us carouse with intoxicating drink,

and tomorrow will be like today,

very great indeed.”^p