Isaiah — Chapter 56

Thus said GOD:Observe what is right and do what is just;For soon My salvation shall come,And My deliverance be revealed.

Happy is the mortal who does this,The one who holds fast to it:Who keeps the sabbath and does not profane it,And holds back from doing any evil.

Let not the foreigner say,Who is joined to GOD,“GOD will keep me apart from the covenanted people”;And let not the eunuch say,“I am a withered tree.”

For thus said GOD:“As for the eunuchs who keep My sabbaths,Who have chosen what I desireAnd hold fast to My covenant—

I will give them, in My HouseAnd within My walls,A monument and a nameBetter than sons or daughters.I will give them an everlasting nameThat shall not perish.

As for the foreignersWho are joined to GOD,To render service,And to love GOD’s name,To be devoted servants—All who keep the sabbath and do not profane it,And who hold fast to My covenant—

I will bring them to My sacred mountAnd let them rejoice in My house of prayer.Their burnt offerings and sacrificesShall be welcome on My altar;For My House shall be calledA house of prayer for all peoples.”

Thus declares my Sovereign GOD,Who gathers the dispersed of Israel:“I will gather still more to those already gathered.”

All you wild beasts, come and devour,All you beasts of the forest!

TheaThe Heb. “his.” lookouts are blind, all of them,They perceive nothing.They are all dumb dogsThat cannot bark;They lie sprawling,bsprawling Meaning of Heb. uncertain. They love to drowse.

Moreover, the dogs are greedy;They never know satiety.As for the shepherds,cshepherds I.e., community leaders. they know notWhat it is to give heed.dAs for the shepherds, they know not / What it is to give heed Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Emendation yields “Neither do the shepherds ever know sufficiency (hon).” Cf. hon in Prov. 30.15, 16. Everyone has turned their own way,Every last one seeks their own advantage.

“Come, I’ll get some wine;Let us swill liquor.And tomorrow will be just the same,Or even much grander!”