CHAPTER 56
This is what
the LORD
says:
“Maintain
justice
and do
what is right,
for
My salvation
is coming
soon,
and My righteousness
will be revealed.
Blessed
is the man
who does
this,
and the son
of man
who holds it fast,
who keeps
the Sabbath
without profaning it,
and keeps
his hand
from doing
any
evil.”
Let no
foreigner
who has joined
himself to
the LORD
say,
“The LORD
will utterly exclude
me from
His people.”
And let the eunuch
not
say,
“I
am but
a dry
tree.”
For
this is what
the LORD
says:
“To the eunuchs
who
keep
My Sabbaths,
who choose
what
pleases Me
and hold fast
to My covenant—
I will give them,
in My house
and within My walls,
a memorial
and a name
better than
that of sons
and daughters.
I will give them
an everlasting
name
that
will not
be cut off.
And the foreigners
who join
themselves to
the LORD
to minister to Him,
to love
the name
of the LORD,
and to be
His servants—
all
who keep
the Sabbath
without profaning it
and who hold fast
to My covenant—
I will bring
them to
My holy
mountain
and make them joyful
in My house
of prayer.
Their burnt offerings
and sacrifices
will be accepted
on
My altar,
for
My house
will be called
a house
of prayer
for all
the nations.”
Thus declares
the Lord
GOD,
who gathers
the dispersed
of Israel:
“I will gather
to them
still others
besides those already gathered.”
Israel’s watchmen
are blind,
they are all
oblivious;
they are all
mute
dogs,
they cannot
bark;
they are dreamers
lying around,
loving
to slumber.
Like ravenous dogs,
they are never
satisfied.
They
are shepherds
with
no
discernment;
they all
turn
to their own way,
each
one
seeking his own gain:
“Come,
let me get
the wine,
let us imbibe
the strong drink,
and tomorrow
will be
like today,
only far
better!”