Isaiah 56

Salvation for Others

This is what the Lord says:

“Maintain justice^a

and do what is right,^b

for my salvation^c is close at hand

and my righteousness^d will soon be revealed.

Blessed^e are those who do this—

who hold it fast,

those who keep the Sabbath^f without desecrating it,

and keep their hands from doing any evil.”

Let no foreigners^g who have bound themselves to the Lord say,

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

And let no eunuchⁱ complain,

“I am only a dry tree.”

For this is what the Lord says:

“To the eunuchs^j who keep my Sabbaths,

who choose what pleases me

and hold fast to my covenant^k—

to them I will give within my temple and its walls^l

a memorial^m and a name

better than sons and daughters;

I will give them an everlasting nameⁿ

that will endure forever.^o

And foreigners^p who bind themselves to the Lord

to minister^q to him,

to love the name^r of the Lord,

and to be his servants,

all who keep the Sabbath^s without desecrating it

and who hold fast to my covenant—

these I will bring to my holy mountain^t

and give them joy in my house of prayer.

Their burnt offerings and sacrifices^u

will be accepted on my altar;

for my house will be called

a house of prayer for all nations.^v”^w

The Sovereign Lord declares—

he who gathers the exiles of Israel:

“I will gather^x still others to them

besides those already gathered.”

God’s Accusation Against the Wicked

Come, all you beasts of the field,^a

come and devour, all you beasts of the forest!

Israel’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

They 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

“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