Isaiah 56

Salvation for Others

56This is what the Lord says:

“Maintain justice^c

and do what is right,^d

for my salvation^e is close at hand

and my righteousness^f will soon be revealed.

²Blessed^g is the one who does this—

the person who holds it fast,

who keeps the Sabbath^h without desecrating it,

and keeps their hands from doing any evil.”

³Let no foreignerⁱ who is bound to the Lord say,

“The Lord will surely exclude me from his people.”^j

And let no eunuch^k complain,

“I am only a dry tree.”

⁴For this is what the Lord says:

“To the eunuchs^l who keep my Sabbaths,

who choose what pleases me

and hold fast to my covenant^m—

⁵to them I will give within my temple and its wallsⁿ

a memorial^o and a name

better than sons and daughters;

I will give them an everlasting name^p

that will endure forever.^q

⁶And foreigners^r who bind themselves to the Lord

to minister^s to him,

to love the name^t of the Lord,

and to be his servants,

all who keep the Sabbath^u without desecrating it

and who hold fast to my covenant—

⁷these I will bring to my holy mountain^v

and give them joy in my house of prayer.

Their burnt offerings and sacrifices^w

will be accepted on my altar;

for my house will be called

a house of prayer for all nations.^x”^y

⁸The Sovereign Lord declares—

he who gathers the exiles of Israel:

“I will gather^z still others to them

besides those already gathered.”

God’s Accusation Against the Wicked

⁹Come, all you beasts of the field,^a

come and devour, all you beasts of the forest!

¹⁰Israel’s watchmen^b are blind,

they all lack knowledge;^c

they are all mute dogs,

they cannot bark;

they lie around and dream,

they love to sleep.^d

¹¹They are dogs with mighty appetites;

they never have enough.

They are shepherds^e who lack understanding;^f

they all turn to their own way,^g

they seek their own gain.^h

¹²“Come,” each one cries, “let me get wine!ⁱ

Let us drink our fill of beer!

And tomorrow will be like today,

or even far better.”^j