Isaiah 56
1 Thus saith Yhwh, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.
This is what the Lord says: Follow the law, and do what is right, for my salvation will soon arrive, and my goodness will be revealed.
2 Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.
Blessed is everyone who does this—those who keep to it, who observe the Sabbath without violating it, and who don't do anything wrong.
3 Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to Yhwh, speak, saying, Yhwh hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.
Don't allow foreigners who have dedicated themselves to the Lord say, “The Lord will definitely exclude me from his people.” And don't allow eunuchs to say, “Look at me—I'm as worthless as a dried-up tree because I'm childless.”
4 For thus saith Yhwh unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant;
For this is what the Lord says: To the eunuchs who observe my Sabbaths, who choose to do what pleases me, and to keep my agreement,
5 Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.
I will give them, in my house and within my walls, a place to remember them and a reputation better than that of sons and daughters. I will give them an everlasting reputation that will never fade.
6 Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to Yhwh, to serve him, and to love the name of Yhwh, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;
About the foreigners who have dedicated themselves to the Lord, who worship him, who love the Lord, and who are his servants, everyone who observes the Sabbath without violating it and who keep to my agreement—
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 mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.
I will bring these foreigners to my holy mountain and make them happy in my house of prayer. I will accept their burnt offerings and sacrifices, because my Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations.
8 The Lord Yhwh which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.
This is what the Lord God says, who brought back the scattered people of Israel: I will bring back still others to join you.
9 All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, yea, all ye beasts in the forest.
Come, wild animals, wild animals of the countryside and forests, come and eat my people!
10 His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.
For all the watchmen are blind. None of them know what's going on. They're all silent—they can't bark. They spend their time lying down, dreaming, loving to sleep.
11 Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.
They're greedy dogs that are never satisfied. They're sheepdogs who don't know their job. All of them go their own way, each of them looking out for themselves.
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, and much more abundant.
“Come on,” they say, “I'll get some wine and let's get drunk! We'll do this today, and tomorrow we'll drink so much more!”
