Salvation for Others
56 This is what the Lord says:
“Maintain justice(A)
and do what is right,(B)
for my salvation(C) is close at hand
and my righteousness(D) will soon be revealed.
2 Blessed(E) is the one who does this—
the person who holds it fast,
who keeps the Sabbath(F) without desecrating it,
and keeps their hands from doing any evil.”
3 Let no foreigner(G) who is bound to the Lord say,
“The Lord will surely exclude me from his people.”(H)
And let no eunuch(I) complain,
“I am only a dry tree.”
4 For this is what the Lord says:
“To the eunuchs(J) who keep my Sabbaths,
who choose what pleases me
and hold fast to my covenant(K)—
5 to them I will give within my temple and its walls(L)
a memorial(M) and a name
better than sons and daughters;
I will give them an everlasting name(N)
that will endure forever.(O)
6 And foreigners(P) who bind themselves to the Lord
to minister(Q) to him,
to love the name(R) of the Lord,
and to be his servants,
all who keep the Sabbath(S) without desecrating it
and who hold fast to my covenant—
7 these I will bring to my holy mountain(T)
and give them joy in my house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and sacrifices(U)
will be accepted on my altar;
for my house will be called
a house of prayer for all nations.(V)”(W)
8 The Sovereign Lord declares—
he who gathers the exiles of Israel:
“I will gather(X) still others to them
besides those already gathered.”
God’s Accusation Against the Wicked
9 Come, all you beasts of the field,(Y)
come and devour, all you beasts of the forest!
10 Israel’s watchmen(Z) are blind,
they all lack knowledge;(AA)
they are all mute dogs,
they cannot bark;
they lie around and dream,
they love to sleep.(AB)
11 They are dogs with mighty appetites;
they never have enough.
They are shepherds(AC) who lack understanding;(AD)
they all turn to their own way,(AE)
they seek their own gain.(AF)
12 “Come,” each one cries, “let me get wine!(AG)
Let us drink our fill of beer!
And tomorrow will be like today,
or even far better.”(AH)
Cross references
- Isaiah 56:1 : S Ps 11:7; S Isa 1:17; S Jer 22:3
- Isaiah 56:1 : S Isa 26:8
- Isaiah 56:1 : S Ps 85:9
- Isaiah 56:1 : Jer 23:6; Da 9:24
- Isaiah 56:2 : S Ps 119:2
- Isaiah 56:2 : S Ex 20:8, 10
- Isaiah 56:3 : S Ex 12:43; S 1Ki 8:41; S Isa 11:10; Zec 8:20-23
- Isaiah 56:3 : Dt 23:3
- Isaiah 56:3 : S Lev 21:20; Jer 38:7 fn; Ac 8:27
- Isaiah 56:4 : Jer 38:7 fn
- Isaiah 56:4 : S Ex 31:13
- Isaiah 56:5 : Isa 26:1; 60:18
- Isaiah 56:5 : S Nu 32:42; 1Sa 15:12
- Isaiah 56:5 : S Isa 43:7
- Isaiah 56:5 : S Isa 48:19; 55:13
- Isaiah 56:6 : S Ex 12:43; S 1Ki 8:41
- Isaiah 56:6 : S 1Ch 22:2; Isa 60:7, 10; 61:5
- Isaiah 56:6 : Mal 1:11
- Isaiah 56:6 : ver 2, 4
- Isaiah 56:7 : S Isa 2:2; Eze 20:40
- Isaiah 56:7 : S Isa 19:21; Ro 12:1; Php 4:18; Heb 13:15
- Isaiah 56:7 : Mt 21:13*; Lk 19:46*
- Isaiah 56:7 : Mk 11:17*
- Isaiah 56:8 : S Dt 30:4; S Isa 1:9; S 11:12; 60:3-11; Eze 34:12; Jn 10:16
- Isaiah 56:9 : Isa 18:6; Jer 12:9; Eze 34:5, 8; 39:17-20
- Isaiah 56:10 : S Isa 52:8; 62:6; Jer 6:17; 31:6; Eze 3:17; 33:7
- Isaiah 56:10 : Jer 2:8; 10:21; 14:13-14
- Isaiah 56:10 : Na 3:18
- Isaiah 56:11 : Jer 23:1; Eze 34:2
- Isaiah 56:11 : Isa 1:3
- Isaiah 56:11 : S Isa 53:6; Hos 4:7-8
- Isaiah 56:11 : Isa 57:17; Jer 6:13; 8:10; 22:17; Eze 13:19; Mic 3:11
- Isaiah 56:12 : S Lev 10:9; S Pr 23:20; S Isa 22:13
- Isaiah 56:12 : Ps 10:6; Lk 12:18-19