International Standard Version

735/1189

Isaiah 56

1 For a this is what the LORD says: “Maintain justice, and do what is right, for soon my salvation will come, and soon my deliverance will be revealed.

2 Blessed is the one who does this, and the person that holds it fast, who observes the Sabbath without profaning it, and restrains his hands b from practicing any evil.

3 “Let c no foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say: ‘The LORD will surely exclude me from his people.’ Furthermore, let no eunuch say, ‘Look! d I am just a dry tree.’”

4 For this is what the LORD says: “To the eunuchs who observe my Sabbaths, who choose the things that please me, and who hold fast my covenant—

5 to them I will give in my house e and within my walls a monument and a name better than sons and daughters. I will give them f an everlasting name that will not be cut off. g

6 “Also, the foreigners who join themselves to h the LORD, to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, i to be his servants, and to bless the LORD’S name, observing j the Sabbath without profaning it, and who hold fast my covenant—

7 these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer. Their burnt-offerings and their sacrifices will rise up to be accepted k on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for everyone.” l

8 This is what the Lord GOD says, the one who gathers the outcasts of Israel: “I’ll gather still others to them besides those already gathered. m

9 “All you wild animals, n come and devour— even o all of you wild animals. p

10 His q watchmen r are blind; they are all without knowledge. They are all dumb dogs— they cannot bark. They keep on dreaming and lying around, and they’re lovers of sleep! s

11 Meanwhile, t the dogs have a mighty appetite— they can never get enough. And as for them, they are the shepherds u who lack understanding; they have all turned to their own way, each one to his gain, each and every one.

12 “‘Come!’ they say, ‘let’s v have some wine, and let’s fill ourselves with strong drink! Then, w tomorrow will be like today, x or even much better!’”