Isaiah 56

Rewards for Obedience to God

1This is what the Lord says:

“Guard justice and do righteousness,

For My salvation is about to come

And My righteousness to be revealed.

2“Blessed is a man who does this,

And a son of man who takes hold of it;

Who keeps from profaning the Sabbath,

And keeps his hand from doing any evil.”

3Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say,

“The Lord will certainly separate me from His people.”

Nor let the eunuch say, “Behold, I am a dry tree.”

4For this is what the Lord says:

“To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths,

And choose what pleases Me,

And hold firmly to My covenant,

5To them I will give in My house and within My walls a memorial,

And a name better than that of sons and daughters;

I will give them an everlasting name which will not be eliminated.

6¶“Also the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord ,

To attend to His service and to love the name of the Lord ,

To be His servants, every one who keeps the Sabbath so as not to profane it,

And holds firmly to My covenant;

7Even those I will bring to My holy mountain,

And make them joyful in My house of prayer.

Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar;

For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.”

8The Lord God , who gathers the dispersed of Israel, declares,[#56:8 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord]

“I will yet gather others to them, to those already gathered.”

9¶All you wild animals,[#56:9 Lit animals of the field]

All you animals in the forest,

Come to eat.

10His watchmen are blind,

All of them know nothing.

All of them are mute dogs unable to bark,

Dreamers lying down, who love to slumber;

11And the dogs are greedy, they are never satisfied.[#56:11 Lit strong of soul/appetite; #56:11 Lit do not know satisfaction]

And they are shepherds who have no understanding;

They have all turned to their own way,

Each one to his unjust gain, without exception.

12“Come,” they say, “let’s get wine, and let’s drink heavily of intoxicating drink;[#56:12 As in DSS and some ancient versions; MT I will]

And tomorrow will be like today, only more so.”

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