Rewards for Obedience to God

56 This is what the Lord says:
(A)Guard justice and do righteousness,
For My (B)salvation is about to come
And My righteousness to be revealed.
(C)Blessed is a man who does this,
And a son of man who (D)takes hold of it;
Who (E)keeps from profaning the Sabbath,
And keeps his hand from doing any evil.”
Let not the (F)foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say,
“The Lord will certainly separate me from His people.”
Nor let the (G)eunuch say, “Behold, I am a dry tree.”
For this is what the Lord says:
“To the eunuchs who (H)keep My Sabbaths,
And choose what pleases Me,
And (I)hold firmly to My covenant,
To them I will give in My (J)house and within My (K)walls a memorial,
And a name better than that of sons and daughters;
I will give [a]them an everlasting (L)name which (M)will not be eliminated.

“Also the (N)foreigners who join themselves to the Lord,
To attend to His service and to love the name of the Lord,
To be His servants, every one who (O)keeps the Sabbath so as not to profane it,
And holds firmly to My covenant;
Even (P)those I will bring to My (Q)holy mountain,
And (R)make them joyful in My house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on (S)My altar;
For (T)My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.”

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 56:5 As in DSS; MT him

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.
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.”

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.”

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)
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)
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—
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)

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Vision of the Valley of Dry Bones

37 The (A)hand of the Lord was upon me, and He (B)brought me out [a]by the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the (C)valley; and it was full of bones. He had me pass among them all around, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley; and behold, they were very dry. Then He said to me, “Son of man, (D)can these bones live?” And I answered, “Lord [b]God, (E)You Yourself know.” Again He said to me, “(F)Prophesy over these bones and say to them, ‘You dry bones, (G)hear the word of the Lord.’ This is what the Lord God says to these bones: ‘Behold, I am going to make [c](H)breath enter you so that you may come to life. And I will [d]attach tendons to you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin, and put breath in you so that you may come to life; and you will (I)know that I am the Lord.’”

So I prophesied (J)as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a loud noise, and behold, a [e]rattling; and the bones came together, bone to its bone. And I looked, and behold, tendons were on them, and flesh grew and skin covered them; but there was no breath in them. Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘The Lord God says this: “Come from the four winds, breath, and (K)breathe on these slain, so that they (L)come to life.”’” 10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the (M)breath entered them, and they came to life and stood on their feet, an (N)exceedingly great army.

The Vision Explained

11 Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the (O)entire house of Israel; behold, they say, ‘Our (P)bones are dried up and our hope has perished. We are [f]completely (Q)cut off.’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “Behold, I am going to open your graves and (R)cause you to come up out of your graves, My people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel. 13 Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, My people. 14 And I will (S)put My [g]Spirit within you and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken and done it,” declares the Lord.’”

Reunion of Judah and Israel

15 The word of the Lord came again to me, saying, 16 “Now you, son of man, take for yourself (T)one stick and write on it, ‘For (U)Judah and for the sons of Israel, his companions’; then take another stick and write on it, ‘For (V)Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and all the house of Israel, his companions.’ 17 Then (W)put them together for yourself one to another into one stick, so that they may become one in your hand. 18 And when the sons of your people speak to you, saying, ‘Will you not declare to us (X)what [h]you mean by these?’ 19 say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “Behold, I am going to take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions; and I will put them with it, with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they will be one in My hand.”’ 20 The sticks on which you write will be in your hand before their eyes. 21 And say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “Behold, I am going to (Y)take the sons of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, and I will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; 22 and I will make them (Z)one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and (AA)one king will be king for all of them; and they will no longer be two nations, and no longer be divided into two kingdoms. 23 They will (AB)no longer defile themselves with their idols, or with their detestable things, or with any of their offenses; but (AC)I will rescue them from all their [i]dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. And they will be My people, and I will be their God.

The Davidic Kingdom

24 “And My servant (AD)David will be king over them, and they will all have (AE)one shepherd; and they will walk in My ordinances, and keep My statutes and [j]follow them. 25 And they will live on the land that I gave to My servant Jacob, in which your fathers lived; and they will live on it, they, and their sons and their sons’ sons, forever; and My servant (AF)David will be their leader forever. 26 And I will make a (AG)covenant of peace with them; it will be an (AH)everlasting covenant with them. And I will [k]place them and (AI)multiply them, and set My (AJ)sanctuary in their midst forever. 27 My (AK)dwelling place also will be among them; and (AL)I will be their God, and they will be My people. 28 And the nations will know that I am the Lord (AM)who sanctifies Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forever.”’”

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 37:1 Or in
  2. Ezekiel 37:3 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord, and so throughout the ch
  3. Ezekiel 37:5 Or spirit, and so throughout the ch
  4. Ezekiel 37:6 Lit give
  5. Ezekiel 37:7 Or rustling
  6. Ezekiel 37:11 Lit cut off to ourselves
  7. Ezekiel 37:14 Or breath
  8. Ezekiel 37:18 Lit these are to you
  9. Ezekiel 37:23 Another reading is offenses
  10. Ezekiel 37:24 Lit do them
  11. Ezekiel 37:26 Lit give

The Valley of Dry Bones

37 The hand of the Lord was on me,(A) and he brought me out by the Spirit(B) of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley;(C) it was full of bones.(D) He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”

I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.(E)

Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!(F) This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath[a] enter you, and you will come to life.(G) I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.(H)’”

So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.

Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath;(I) prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds(J) and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” 10 So I prophesied as he commanded(K) me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.(L)

11 Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’(M) 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel.(N) 13 Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord,(O) when I open your graves and bring you up from them.(P) 14 I will put my Spirit(Q) in you and you will live, and I will settle(R) you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.(S)’”

One Nation Under One King

15 The word of the Lord came to me: 16 “Son of man, take a stick of wood and write on it, ‘Belonging to Judah and the Israelites(T) associated with him.(U)’ Then take another stick of wood, and write on it, ‘Belonging to Joseph (that is, to Ephraim) and all the Israelites associated with him.’ 17 Join them together into one stick so that they will become one in your hand.(V)

18 “When your people ask you, ‘Won’t you tell us what you mean by this?’(W) 19 say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am going to take the stick of Joseph—which is in Ephraim’s hand—and of the Israelite tribes associated with him, and join it to Judah’s stick. I will make them into a single stick of wood, and they will become one in my hand.’(X) 20 Hold before their eyes the sticks you have written on 21 and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land.(Y) 22 I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel.(Z) There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms.(AA) 23 They will no longer defile(AB) themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding,[b](AC) and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God.(AD)

24 “‘My servant David(AE) will be king(AF) over them, and they will all have one shepherd.(AG) They will follow my laws and be careful to keep my decrees.(AH) 25 They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob, the land where your ancestors lived.(AI) They and their children and their children’s children will live there forever,(AJ) and David my servant will be their prince forever.(AK) 26 I will make a covenant of peace(AL) with them; it will be an everlasting covenant.(AM) I will establish them and increase their numbers,(AN) and I will put my sanctuary among them(AO) forever.(AP) 27 My dwelling place(AQ) will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people.(AR) 28 Then the nations will know that I the Lord make Israel holy,(AS) when my sanctuary is among them forever.(AT)’”

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 37:5 The Hebrew for this word can also mean wind or spirit (see verses 6-14).
  2. Ezekiel 37:23 Many Hebrew manuscripts (see also Septuagint); most Hebrew manuscripts all their dwelling places where they sinned

11 (A)I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? [a](B)Far from it! But by their wrongdoing (C)salvation has come to the Gentiles, to (D)make them jealous. 12 Now if their wrongdoing proves to be riches for the world, and their failure, riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their [b](E)fulfillment be! 13 But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Therefore insofar as (F)I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry 14 if somehow I may (G)move (H)my [c]own people to jealousy and (I)save some of them. 15 For if their rejection proves to be the (J)reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but (K)life from the dead? 16 If the (L)first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are as well.

17 But if some of the (M)branches were broken off, and (N)you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the [d]rich root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that (O)it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. 19 (P)You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you (Q)stand by your faith. (R)Do not be conceited, but fear; 21 for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. 22 See then the kindness and severity of God: to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s (S)kindness, (T)if you continue in His kindness; for otherwise you too (U)will be cut off. 23 And they also, (V)if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in; for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?

25 For (W)I do not want you, brothers and sisters, to be uninformed of this (X)mystery—so that you will not be (Y)wise in your own estimation—that a partial (Z)hardening has happened to Israel until the (AA)fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written:

(AB)The Deliverer will come from Zion,
He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.”
27 (AC)This is [e]My covenant with them,
(AD)When I take away their sins.”

28 In relation to the gospel they are (AE)enemies on your account, but in relation to God’s choice they are beloved (AF)on account of the fathers; 29 for the gifts and the (AG)calling of God (AH)are irrevocable. 30 For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy. 32 For (AI)God has shut up all in disobedience, so that He may show mercy to all.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 11:11 Lit May it never happen!
  2. Romans 11:12 Or fullness
  3. Romans 11:14 Lit flesh
  4. Romans 11:17 Lit root of the fatness
  5. Romans 11:27 Lit the covenant from Me

Ingrafted Branches

11 Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all!(A) Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles(B) to make Israel envious.(C) 12 But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles,(D) how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!

13 I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles,(E) I take pride in my ministry 14 in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy(F) and save(G) some of them. 15 For if their rejection brought reconciliation(H) to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?(I) 16 If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits(J) is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.

17 If some of the branches have been broken off,(K) and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others(L) and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18 do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.(M) 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith.(N) Do not be arrogant,(O) but tremble.(P) 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

22 Consider therefore the kindness(Q) and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue(R) in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.(S) 23 And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.(T) 24 After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree,(U) how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

All Israel Will Be Saved

25 I do not want you to be ignorant(V) of this mystery,(W) brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited:(X) Israel has experienced a hardening(Y) in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in,(Z) 26 and in this way[a] all Israel will be saved.(AA) As it is written:

“The deliverer will come from Zion;
    he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
27 And this is[b] my covenant with them
    when I take away their sins.”[c](AB)

28 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies(AC) for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs,(AD) 29 for God’s gifts and his call(AE) are irrevocable.(AF) 30 Just as you who were at one time disobedient(AG) to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now[d] receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. 32 For God has bound everyone over to disobedience(AH) so that he may have mercy on them all.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 11:26 Or and so
  2. Romans 11:27 Or will be
  3. Romans 11:27 Isaiah 59:20,21; 27:9 (see Septuagint); Jer. 31:33,34
  4. Romans 11:31 Some manuscripts do not have now.

11 Therefore remember that (A)previously (B)you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “(C)Uncircumcision” by the so-called “(D)Circumcision” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, [a](E)excluded from [b]the people of Israel, and strangers to (F)the covenants of the promise, having (G)no hope and (H)without God in the world. 13 But now in (I)Christ Jesus you who (J)previously were (K)far away [c]have (L)been brought near [d](M)by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is (N)our peace, (O)who made both groups into one and broke down the [e]barrier of the dividing wall, 15 [f]by (P)abolishing [g]in His flesh the hostility, which is (Q)the Law composed of commandments expressed in ordinances, so that in Himself He might [h](R)make the two (S)one new person, in this way establishing (T)peace; 16 and that He might (U)reconcile them both in (V)one body to God through the cross, [i]by it having (W)put to death the hostility. 17 And (X)He came and preached (Y)peace to you who were (Z)far away, and peace to those who were (AA)near; 18 for through Him we both have (AB)our access in (AC)one Spirit to (AD)the Father. 19 So then you are no longer (AE)strangers and foreigners, but you are (AF)fellow citizens with the [j]saints, and are of (AG)God’s household, 20 having been (AH)built on (AI)the foundation of (AJ)the apostles and prophets, (AK)Christ Jesus Himself being the (AL)cornerstone, 21 (AM)in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into (AN)a holy [k]temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being (AO)built together into a (AP)dwelling of God in the Spirit.

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 2:12 Or alienated
  2. Ephesians 2:12 Or citizenship in Israel
  3. Ephesians 2:13 Lit became; or were made
  4. Ephesians 2:13 Or in
  5. Ephesians 2:14 Lit the dividing wall of the barrier
  6. Ephesians 2:15 Or the hostility, by abolishing in His flesh the Law
  7. Ephesians 2:15 I.e., by His death
  8. Ephesians 2:15 Lit create
  9. Ephesians 2:16 Or in Himself
  10. Ephesians 2:19 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  11. Ephesians 2:21 Or sanctuary

Jew and Gentile Reconciled Through Christ

11 Therefore, remember that formerly(A) you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)(B) 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners(C) to the covenants of the promise,(D) without hope(E) and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once(F) were far away have been brought near(G) by the blood of Christ.(H)

14 For he himself is our peace,(I) who has made the two groups one(J) and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh(K) the law with its commands and regulations.(L) His purpose was to create in himself one(M) new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross,(N) by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace(O) to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.(P) 18 For through him we both have access(Q) to the Father(R) by one Spirit.(S)

19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers,(T) but fellow citizens(U) with God’s people and also members of his household,(V) 20 built(W) on the foundation(X) of the apostles and prophets,(Y) with Christ Jesus himself(Z) as the chief cornerstone.(AA) 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple(AB) in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.(AC)

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