Isaiah 56
The LORD declares that His salvation is near and commands justice and righteousness. The foreigner who joins himself to the LORD shall not be separated from His people, and the eunuch who keeps the LORD's sabbaths will be given a name better than sons and daughters. The LORD's house will be called a house of prayer for all people. Israel's watchmen are blind and her shepherds cannot understand.
| v | King James Version | Modern English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. | Thus says the LORD: "Keep 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 layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil. | Blessed is the man who does this — the son of man who holds it firmly — who keeps the Sabbath without defiling it, and keeps His hand from doing any evil. |
| 3 | Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. | Let not the foreigner who has joined Himself to the LORD say, "The LORD will surely exclude me from His people." Let not the eunuch say, "I am a dry tree." |
| 4 | For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; | For thus says the LORD to the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, who choose what pleases Me and hold fast to My covenant: |
| 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 a memorial and a name within My house and within My walls, better than sons and daughters. I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off." |
| 6 | Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; | And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD — to serve Him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be His servants — everyone who keeps the Sabbath without defiling it and holds fast to 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 mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. | even them I will bring to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices shall be accepted on My altar. For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. |
| 8 | The Lord GOD which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him. | The Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares: "I will gather still others to Him besides those already gathered." |
| 9 | All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, yea, all ye beasts in the forest. | Come to devour, all You animals of the field — all You animals in the forest. |
| 10 | His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. | His watchmen are blind; they are all without knowledge. They are all silent dogs that cannot bark. They lie down and love 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 are greedy dogs with an insatiable appetite. They are shepherds who have no understanding. They all look to their own way, each one seeking his own gain. |
| 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," each one cries, "let me bring wine; let us drink our fill of strong drink. Tomorrow will be like today — even better!" |