Chapter 56

Thus saith¹ the LORD, Keep³ ye judgment, and do³ justice: for my salvation [is] near to come,² and my righteousness to be revealed.⁹

Blessed [is] the man [that] doeth⁴ this, and the son of man [that] layeth hold⁵⁵ on it; that keepeth⁶ the sabbath from polluting¹⁵ it, and keepeth⁶ his hand from doing² any evil.

Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined⁸ himself to the LORD, speak,⁴ saying,² The LORD hath utterly⁵³ separated⁵⁵ me from his people: neither let the eunuch say,⁴ Behold, I [am] a dry tree.

For thus saith¹ the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep⁴ my sabbaths, and choose¹ [the things] that please¹ me, and take hold⁵⁶ of my covenant;

Even unto them will I give¹ in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give⁴ them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.¹¹

Also the sons of the stranger, that join¹² themselves to the LORD, to serve¹⁵ him, and to love² the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth⁶ the sabbath from polluting¹⁵ it, and taketh hold⁵⁶ of my covenant;

Even them will I bring⁵² to my holy mountain, and make them joyful¹⁴ in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices [shall be] accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called¹¹ an house of prayer for all people.

The Lord GOD which gathereth¹⁸ the outcasts¹² of Israel saith,⁷ Yet will I gather¹⁷ [others] to him, beside those that are gathered¹² unto him.

All ye beasts of the field, come³ to devour,² [yea], all ye beasts in the forest.

His watchmen⁶ [are] blind: they are all ignorant, ^{3045 1} they [are] all dumb dogs, they cannot ^{3201 4} bark;² sleeping,⁶ lying down,⁶ loving⁶ to slumber.²

Yea, [they are] greedy ⁵³¹⁵ dogs [which] can never have¹ enough, and they [are] shepherds⁶ [that] cannot ^{3045 1} understand:⁵³ they all look¹ to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.

Come³ ye, [say they], I will fetch⁴ wine, and we will fill⁴ ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, [and] much more abundant.