Isaiah 56
The Lord Invites Outsiders to Enter
1 This is what the Lord says,
“Promotet justice! Do what is right!
For I am ready to deliver you;
I am ready to vindicate you openly.t
2 The people who do this will be blessed,t
the people who commit themselves to obedience,t
who observe the Sabbath and do not defile it,
who refrain from doing anything that is wrong.t
3 No foreigner who becomes a follower oft the Lord should say,
‘The Lord will certainlyt exclude me from his people.’
The eunuch should not say,
‘Look, I am like a dried-up tree.’”
4 For this is what the Lord says:
“For the eunuchs who observe my Sabbaths
and choose what pleases me
and are faithful tot my covenant,
5 I will set up within my temple and my walls a monumentt
that will be better than sons and daughters.
I will set up a permanent monumentt for them that will remain.
6 As for foreigners who become followers oft the Lord and serve him,
who love the name of the Lord and want to be his servants –
all who observe the Sabbath and do not defile it,
and who are faithful tot my covenant –
7 I will bring them to my holy mountain;
I will make them happy in the temple where people pray to me.t
Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar,
for my temple will be known as a temple where all nations may pray.”t
8 The sovereign Lord says this,
the one who gathers the dispersed of Israel:
“I will still gather them up.”t
The Lord Denounces Israel’s Paganism
9 All you wild animals in the fields, come and devour,
all you wild animals in the forest!
10 All their watchmens are blind,
they are unaware.t
All of them are like mute dogs,
unable to bark.
They pant,t lie down,
and love to snooze.
11 The dogs have big appetites;
they are never full.s
They are shepherds who have no understanding;
they all go their own way,
each one looking for monetary gain.t
12 Each one says,t
‘Come on, I’ll get some wine!
Let’s guzzle some beer!
Tomorrow will be just like today!
We’ll have everything we want!’t
ISAIAH 56
All Nations Will Be Part //of God's People
1 The [Lord] said:
Be honest and fair!
Soon I will come to save you;
my saving power will be seen
everywhere on earth.
2 I will bless everyone
who respects the Sabbath
and refuses to do wrong.
3 Foreigners who worship me
must not say,
“The [Lord] won't let us
be part of his people.”
Men who are unable
to become fathers
must no longer say,
“We are dried-up trees.”
4 t To them, I, the [Lord], say:
Respect the Sabbath,
obey me completely,
and keep our agreement.
5 Then you will be like monuments
in my temple with your names
written on them.
This will be much better
than having children,
because these monuments
will stand there forever.
6 Foreigners will follow me.
They will love me and worship
in my name;
they will respect the Sabbath
and keep our agreement.
7 t I will bring them
to my holy mountain,
where they will celebrate
in my house of worship.
Their sacrifices and offerings
will always be welcome
on my altar.
Then my house will be known
as a house of worship
for all nations.
8 I, the [Lord], promise
to bring together my people
who were taken away,
and let them join the others.God Promises To Punish //Israel's Leaders
9 Come from the forest,
you wild animals!
Attack and gobble up
your victims.
10 You leaders of Israel
should be watchdogs,
protecting my people.
But you can't see a thing,
and you never warn them.
Dozing and daydreaming
are all you ever do.
11 You stupid leaders are a pack
of hungry and greedy dogs
that never get enough.
You are shepherds
who mistreat your own sheep
for selfish gain.
12 You say to each other,
“Let's drink till we're drunk!
Tomorrow we'll do it again.
We'll really enjoy ourselves.”