56 1 An exhortation to judgment and justice. 10 Against shepherds that devour their flock.
1 Thus saith the Lord, [a]Keep judgment and do justice, for my salvation is at hand to come, and my [b]righteousness to be revealed.
2 Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man which layeth hold on it; he that keepeth the [c]Sabbath, and polluteth it not, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.
3 And let not the son of the strangers, which [d]is joined to the Lord, speak and say, The Lord hath surely separated me from his people; neither let the Eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.
4 For thus saith the Lord unto the Eunuchs that keep my Sabbaths, and choose the thing that pleaseth me, and take hold of my covenant,
5 Even unto them will I give in mine [e]House and within my walls, a place, and a [f]name better than of the sons and of the daughters; I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be put out.
6 Also the strangers that cleave unto the Lord, to serve him, and to love the Name of the Lord, and to be his servants; everyone that keepeth the Sabbath, and polluteth it not, and embraceth my covenant,
7 Them will I bring also to mine holy mountain, and make them joyful in mine House of prayer; their burnt [g]offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar: for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for [h]all people.
8 The Lord God saith, which gathereth the scattered of Israel, Yet will I gather to them those that are to be gathered to them.
9 All ye [i]beasts of the field, come to devour, even all ye beasts of the forest.
10 Their [j]watchmen are all blind: they have no knowledge: they are all dumb dogs: they cannot bark: they lie and sleep, and delight in sleeping.
11 And these greedy dogs can never have enough: and these shepherds cannot understand: for they all look to their own way, everyone for his advantage, and for his own purpose.
12 Come, I will bring wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink, and [k]tomorrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.
Footnotes
- Isaiah 56:1 God showeth what he requireth of them after that he hath delivered them: to wit, the works of charity whereby true faith is declared.
- Isaiah 56:1 Which I will declare toward you, and pour into your hearts by my Spirit.
- Isaiah 56:2 Under the Sabbath he comprehendeth the whole service of God and true religion.
- Isaiah 56:3 Let none think himself unmeet to receive the graces of the Lord: for the Lord will take away all impediments, and will forsake none which will keep his true religion, and believe in him.
- Isaiah 56:5 Meaning, in his Church.
- Isaiah 56:5 They shall be called after my people, and be of the same religion: yea, under Christ the dignity of the faithful shall be greater than the Jews were at that time.
- Isaiah 56:7 Hereby he meaneth the spiritual service of God, to whom the faithful offer continual thanksgiving, yea themselves and all that they have, as a lively and acceptable sacrifice.
- Isaiah 56:7 Not only for the Jews, but for all others, Matt. 21:13.
- Isaiah 56:9 Meaning, the enemies of the Church, as the Babylonians, Assyrians, etc., thus he speaketh to fear the hypocrites and to assure the faithful that when this cometh, they may know it was told them before.
- Isaiah 56:10 He showeth that this affliction shall come through the fault of the governors, prophets, and pastors, whose ignorance, negligence, avarice and obstinacy provoked God’s wrath against them.
- Isaiah 56:12 We are well yet, and tomorrow shall be better: therefore let us not fear the plagues before they come: thus the wicked contemned the admonitions and exhortations which were made them in the Name of God.