III. Isaiah 56—66
Chapter 56
Salvation for the Just
1 Thus says the Lord:
Observe what is right, do what is just,
for my salvation is about to come,
my justice, about to be revealed.(A)
2 Happy is the one who does this,
whoever holds fast to it:
Keeping the sabbath without profaning it,
keeping one’s hand from doing any evil.(B)
Obligations and Promises to Share in the Covenant
3 The foreigner joined to the Lord should not say,
“The Lord will surely exclude me from his people”;
Nor should the eunuch say,
“See, I am a dry tree.”(C)
4 For thus says the Lord:
To the eunuchs who keep my sabbaths,
who choose what pleases me,
and who hold fast to my covenant,(D)
5 I will give them, in my house
and within my walls, a monument and a name
Better than sons and daughters;
an eternal name, which shall not be cut off, will I give them.
6 And foreigners who join themselves to the Lord,
to minister to him,
To love the name of the Lord,
to become his servants—
All who keep the sabbath without profaning it
and hold fast to my covenant,
7 Them 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 shall be called
a house of prayer for all peoples.(E)
8 Oracle of the Lord God,
who gathers the dispersed of Israel—
Others will I gather to them
besides those already gathered.(F)
Unworthy Shepherds
9 All you beasts of the field,
come to devour,
all you beasts in the forest!(G)
10 All the sentinels of Israel are blind,
they are without knowledge;
They are all mute dogs,
unable to bark;
Dreaming, reclining,
loving their sleep.
11 Yes, the dogs have a ravenous appetite;
they never know satiety,
Shepherds who have no understanding;
all have turned their own way,
each one covetous for gain:
12 “Come, let me bring wine;
let us fill ourselves with strong drink,
And tomorrow will be like today,
or even greater.”(H)
Footnotes
- 56:1–8
- 56:1
- 56:3
- 56:5
- 56:7
- 56:8
- 56:9–57:21
- 56:9
- 56:10–11
Cross references
- 56:1 : Is 59:9, 14, 19–20.
- 56:2 : Is 1:13; 58:13–14; Ex 23:12.
- 56:3 : Dt 23:3–5; Neh 13:1–3.
- 56:4 : Wis 3:14.
- 56:7 : 1 Kgs 8:29–30, 41; Mt 21:13.
- 56:8 : Ps 147:2.
- 56:9 : Jer 12:9–10; Ez 34:5.
- 56:12 : Is 22:13; 28:7; Wis 2:7.
