1Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.2Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.3Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.4For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant;5Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.6Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;7Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.8The Lord GOD which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.9All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, yea , all ye beasts in the forest.10His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.11Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.12Come ye, say they , I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.
Isaiah 56
New International Reader’s Version
The Lord will save those who come to him
1The LORD says, ‘Do what is fair and right. I will soon come and save you. Soon everyone will know that what I do is right.2Blessed is the person who does what I want them to. They are faithful in keeping the Sabbath day. They do not misuse it. They do not do what is evil on that day.’3Suppose an outsider wants to follow the LORD. Then that person shouldn’t say, ‘The LORD won’t accept me as one of his people.’ And a eunuch shouldn’t say, ‘I’m like a dry tree that doesn’t bear any fruit.’4The LORD says, ‘Suppose some eunuchs keep my Sabbath days. They choose to do what pleases me. And they are faithful in keeping my covenant.5Then I will set up a monument in the area of my temple. Their names will be written on it. That will be better for them than having sons and daughters. The names of the eunuchs will be remembered for ever. They will never be forgotten.6‘Suppose outsiders want to follow me and serve me. They want to love me and worship me. They keep the Sabbath day and do not misuse it. And they are faithful in keeping my covenant.7Then I will bring them to my holy mountain of Zion. I will give them joy in my house. They can pray there. I will accept their burnt offerings and sacrifices on my altar. My house will be called a house where people from all nations can pray.’8The LORD and King will gather those who were taken away from their homes in Israel. He announces, ‘I will gather them to myself. And I will gather others to join them.’
The Lord judges Israel’s evil leaders
9Come, all you enemy nations! Come like wild animals. Come and destroy like animals in the forest.10Israel’s prophets are blind. They don’t know the LORD. All of them are like watchdogs that can’t even bark. They just lie around and dream. They love to sleep.11They are like dogs that love to eat. They never get enough. They are like shepherds who don’t have any understanding. All of them do as they please. They only look for what they can get for themselves.12‘Come!’ they shout. ‘Let’s get some wine! Let’s drink all the beer we can! Tomorrow we’ll do the same thing. And that will be even better than today.’