56
1 The
LORD says:
“Maintain justice
and do what
is right,
for my salvation
is near
and my
righteousness will
soon be revealed.
2 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.”
3 Let no
foreigner who has
joined himself to
the LORD speak, saying,
“The LORD will
surely separate me
from his people.”
Do not let the
eunuch say, “Behold,
I am a
dry tree.”
4 For
the LORD says, “To
the eunuchs who
keep my Sabbaths,
choose the things that
please me,
and hold fast
to my covenant,
5 I
will give them
in my house
and within my
walls a memorial
and a name
better than of
sons and of
daughters.
I will give
them an
everlasting name
that will not
be cut off.
6 Also
the foreigners who
join themselves to
the LORD
to serve him,
and to love the
LORD’s name,
to be his
servants,
everyone who
keeps the Sabbath
from profaning it,
and holds fast
my covenant,
7 I
will bring these
to my holy
mountain,
and make them
joyful in my
house of prayer.
Their burnt
offerings and
their sacrifices
will be accepted
on my altar;
for my house
will be called
a house of
prayer for all
peoples.”
8 The
Lord GOD, who
gathers the
outcasts of Israel,
says,
“I will yet
gather others to
him,
in addition to
his own who are
gathered.”
9 All
you animals of
the field,
come to devour,
all you animals
in the forest.
10 His
watchmen are blind.
They are all
without knowledge.
They are all mute
dogs.
They can’t bark—
dreaming, lying down, loving
to slumber.
11 Yes, the
dogs are greedy.
They can never
have enough.
They are
shepherds who can’t
understand.
They have all
turned to their
own way,
each one to
his gain, from
every quarter.
12 “Come,”
they say, “I will
get wine,
and we will
fill ourselves with
strong drink;
and tomorrow will
be as today,
great beyond measure.”