Isaiah 56
Salvation for Foreigners
1 This is what the LORD says:
“Maintain justice and do what is right,
1 for My salvation is coming soon,
and My righteousness will be revealed.
2 Blessed is the man who does this,
and the son of man who holds it fast,
2 who keeps the Sabbath without profaning it
and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”
3 Let no foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say,
“The LORD will utterly exclude me from His people.”
3 And let the eunuch not say,
“I am but a dry tree.”
4 For this is what the LORD says:
“To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths,
4 who choose what pleases Me
and hold fast to My covenant—
5 I will give them, in My house and within My walls,
a memorial and a name
5 better than that of sons and daughters.
I will give them an everlasting name
5 that will not be cut off.
6 And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD
to minister to Him,
6 to love the name of the LORD,
and to be His servants—
6 all who keep the Sabbath without profaning it
and who hold fast to My covenant—
7 I will bring them to My holy mountain
and make them joyful in My house of prayer.
7 Their burnt offerings and sacrifices
will be accepted on My altar,
7 for My house will be called a house of prayer
for all the nations.”
8 Thus declares the Lord GOD,
who gathers the dispersed of Israel:
8 “I will gather to them still others
besides those already gathered.”
Israel’s Sinful Leaders
9 Come, all you beasts of the field;
eat greedily, all you beasts of the forest.
10 Israel’s watchmen are blind,
they are all oblivious;
10 they are all mute dogs,
they cannot bark;
10 they are dreamers lying around,
loving to slumber.
11 Like ravenous dogs,
they are never satisfied.
11 They are shepherds with no discernment;
they all turn to their own way,
11 each one seeking his own gain:
12 “Come, let me get the wine,
let us imbibe the strong drink,
12 and tomorrow will be like today,
only far better!”