New Heart English Bible

Isaiah 56

1 Thus says the LORD, "Keep justice, and do righteousness; for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.

2 Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast; who keeps the Sabbath from profaning it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil."

3 Neither let the foreigner, who has joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, "The LORD will surely separate me from his people"; neither let the eunuch say, "Look, I am a dry tree."

4 For thus says the LORD, "To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and hold fast my covenant:

5 to them I will give in my house and within my walls a memorial and a name better than of sons and of daughters; I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.

6 Also the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath from profaning it, and holds fast my covenant;

7 even 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 on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all peoples."

8 The LORD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says, "Yet will I gather others to him, besides his own who are gathered."

9 All you animals of the field, come to devour, all you animals in the forest.

10 His watchmen are blind, they are all without knowledge; they are all mute dogs, they can't bark; dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber.

11 Yes, the dogs are greedy, they can never have enough; and these are shepherds who can't understand: they have all turned to their own way, each one to his gain, from every quarter.

12 "Come," say they, "I will get wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and tomorrow shall be as this day, great beyond measure."