Isaiah 56

Salvation for All Who Follow the Lord

1 This is what the Lord says: “Keep justice and do what is right. My salvation is close, and My righteousness is about to show up.”

2 Blessed is the one who does this, the person who holds to it, who keeps the Sabbath without breaking it and holds back from doing evil.

God Includes the Outsider

3 Do not let the foreigner who follows the Lord say, “The Lord left me out.” And do not let the eunuch say, “I am just a dead tree.”

4 This is what the Lord says to the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, choose what pleases Me, and hold tight to My covenant:

5 “I will give them a place in My house and within My walls. A name better than sons and daughters. An everlasting name that will not ever be cut off.”

6 And foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, who serve Him, love His name, and keep the Sabbath without breaking it, holding tight to My covenant.

7 “I will bring them to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their offerings will be accepted on My altar, for My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.”

8 The Lord God, who gathers the scattered of Israel, says: “I will gather even more to them besides the ones already gathered.”

Corrupt Leaders

9 All you beasts of the field, all you animals of the forest, come eat.

10 Israel’s watchmen are blind. They do not know anything. They are like mute dogs that cannot bark, lazy, lying around, loving sleep.

11 These dogs have huge appetites, never satisfied. The shepherds lack understanding; each one goes his own way, each one chasing his own gain.

12 They say, “Come on, let us get some wine. Let us drink strong drink. Tomorrow will be just like today, maybe even better.”