All you [a](A)wild animals,
All you animals in the forest,
Come to eat.
10 His (B)watchmen are (C)blind,
All of them know nothing.
All of them are mute dogs unable to bark,
Dreamers lying down, who love to slumber;
11 And the dogs are [b](D)greedy, they [c]are never satisfied.
And they are shepherds who have (E)no understanding;
They have all (F)turned to their own way,
Each one to his unjust gain, [d]without exception.
12 “Come,” they say, “[e]let’s get (G)wine, and let’s drink heavily of intoxicating drink;
And (H)tomorrow will be like today, only more so.”

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 56:9 Lit animals of the field
  2. Isaiah 56:11 Lit strong of soul/appetite
  3. Isaiah 56:11 Lit do not know satisfaction
  4. Isaiah 56:11 Lit from his end
  5. Isaiah 56:12 As in DSS and some ancient versions; MT I will

Sinful Leaders Condemned

Come, wild animals of the field!
    Come, wild animals of the forest!
    Come and devour my people!
10 For the leaders of my people—
    the Lord’s watchmen, his shepherds—
    are blind and ignorant.
They are like silent watchdogs
    that give no warning when danger comes.
They love to lie around, sleeping and dreaming.
11     Like greedy dogs, they are never satisfied.
They are ignorant shepherds,
    all following their own path
    and intent on personal gain.
12 “Come,” they say, “let’s get some wine and have a party.
    Let’s all get drunk.
Then tomorrow we’ll do it again
    and have an even bigger party!”

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