Isaiah 56
American Standard Version
56 Thus saith Jehovah, Keep ye justice, and do righteousness; for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. 2 Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that holdeth it fast; that keepeth the sabbath from profaning it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil. 3 Neither let the foreigner, that hath joined himself to Jehovah, speak, saying, Jehovah will surely separate me from his people; neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. 4 For thus saith Jehovah of the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and hold fast my covenant: 5 Unto them will I give in my house and within my walls a [a]memorial and a name [b]better than of sons and of daughters; I will give [c]them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.
6 Also the foreigners that join themselves to Jehovah, to minister unto him, and to love the name of Jehovah, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from profaning it, and holdeth fast my covenant; 7 even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt-offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. 8 The Lord Jehovah, who gathereth the outcasts of Israel, saith, Yet will I gather others to him, [d]besides his own that are gathered.
9 All ye beasts of the field, [e]come to devour, yea, all ye beasts in the forest. 10 His watchmen are blind, they are all without knowledge; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber. 11 Yea, the dogs are greedy, they can never have enough; and these are shepherds that cannot understand: they have all turned to their own way, each one to his gain, [f]from every quarter. 12 Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to-morrow shall be as this day, a day great beyond measure.
Footnotes
- Isaiah 56:5 Or, place. Hebrew hand.
- Isaiah 56:5 Or, better than sons and daughters
- Isaiah 56:5 Hebrew him.
- Isaiah 56:8 Hebrew to his gathered ones.
- Isaiah 56:9 Or, come ye to devour all the beasts in the forest
- Isaiah 56:11 Or, one and all
Isaiah 56
New American Standard Bible 1995
Rewards for Obedience to God
56 Thus says the Lord,
“(A)Preserve justice and do righteousness,
For My (B)salvation is about to come
And My righteousness to be revealed.
2 “How (C)blessed is the man who does this,
And the son of man who (D)takes hold of it;
Who (E)keeps from profaning the sabbath,
And keeps his hand from doing any evil.”
3 Let not the (F)foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say,
“The Lord will surely separate me from His people.”
Nor let the (G)eunuch say, “Behold, I am a dry tree.”
4 For thus says the Lord,
“To the eunuchs who (H)keep My sabbaths,
And choose what pleases Me,
And (I)hold fast My covenant,
5 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 cut off.
6 “Also the (N)foreigners who join themselves to the Lord,
To minister to Him, and to love the name of the Lord,
To be His servants, every one who (O)keeps from profaning the sabbath
And holds fast My covenant;
7 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.”
8 The Lord [b]God, who (U)gathers the dispersed of Israel, declares,
“Yet (V)others I will gather to [c]them, to those already gathered.”
9 All you (W)beasts of the field,
All you beasts in the forest,
Come to eat.
10 His (X)watchmen are (Y)blind,
All of them know nothing.
All of them are mute dogs unable to bark,
[d]Dreamers lying down, who love to slumber;
11 And the dogs are [e](Z)greedy, they [f]are not satisfied.
And they are shepherds who have (AA)no understanding;
They have all (AB)turned to their own way,
Each one to his unjust gain, to the last one.
12 “Come,” they say, “let [g]us get (AC)wine, and let us drink heavily of strong drink;
And (AD)tomorrow will be like today, only more so.”
Footnotes
- Isaiah 56:5 So DSS; M.T. reads him
- Isaiah 56:8 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord
- Isaiah 56:8 Lit him
- Isaiah 56:10 So DSS; M.T. Ravers
- Isaiah 56:11 Lit strong of soul/appetite
- Isaiah 56:11 Lit do not know satisfaction
- Isaiah 56:12 So DSS and many versions; M.T. me
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New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
