Isaiah 56

1 For ^{a56:1 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX lack For} this is what the LORD says: “Maintain justice, and do what is right, for soon my salvation will come, and soon my deliverance will be revealed.ISV — Isaiah 56:1

2 Blessed is the one who does this, and the person that holds it fast, who observes the Sabbath without profaning it, and restrains his hands ^{b56:2 So 1QIsaa LXX 1QIsab MT read hand} from practicing any evil.ISV — Isaiah 56:2

3 “Let ^{c56:3 So 1QIsaa LXX; 1QIsab MT read And let} no foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say: ‘The LORD will surely exclude me from his people.’ Furthermore, let no eunuch say, ‘Look! ^{d56:3 So 1QIsaa 1QIsab MT; LXX lacks Look!} I am just a dry tree.’”ISV — Isaiah 56:3

4 For this is what the LORD says: “To the eunuchs who observe my Sabbaths, who choose the things that please me, and who hold fast my covenant—ISV — Isaiah 56:4

5 to them I will give in my house ^{e56:5 i.e. God’s Temple} and within my walls a monument and a name better than sons and daughters. I will give them ^{f56:5 So 1QIsaa LXX; 1QIsab MT read him} an everlasting name that will not be cut off. ^{g56:5 The Heb. verb is a word play on the Heb. word eunuch}ISV — Isaiah 56:5

6 “Also, the foreigners who join themselves to ^{h56:6 So 1QIsaa (cf. v 3); 1QIsab MT read upon} the LORD, to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, ^{i56:6 So 1QIsab MT LXX; 1QIsaa lacks this line} to be his servants, and to bless the LORD’S name, observing ^{j56:6 So 1QIsaa; 1QIsab MT LXX read all who observe} the Sabbath without profaning it, and who hold fast my covenant—ISV — Isaiah 56:6

7 these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer. Their burnt-offerings and their sacrifices will rise up to be accepted ^{k56:7 1QIsaa; 1QIsab 4QIsai MT LXX read will be accepted} on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for everyone.” ^{l56:7 Lit. for all peoples}ISV — Isaiah 56:7

8 This is what the Lord GOD says, the one who gathers the outcasts of Israel: “I’ll gather still others to them besides those already gathered. ^{m56:8 Lit. besides their gathered ones}ISV — Isaiah 56:8

9 “All you wild animals, ^{n56:9 So 1QIsaa LXX; 1QIsab MT read Every wild animal} come and devour— even ^{o56:9 So 1QIsaa; 1QIsab MT LXX lack even} all of you wild animals. ^{p56:9 So 1QIsaa LXX; 1QIsab MT read every wild animal}ISV — Isaiah 56:9

10 His ^{q56:10 i.e. Israel’s; so 1QIsaa MTq} watchmen ^{r56:10 MT reads His watchman; LXX reads Look! They all} are blind; they are all without knowledge. They are all dumb dogs— they cannot bark. They keep on dreaming and lying around, and they’re lovers of sleep! ^{s56:10 So 1QIsaa LXX; MT reads sleeping}ISV — Isaiah 56:10

11 Meanwhile, ^{t56:11 Lit. And} the dogs have a mighty appetite— they can never get enough. And as for them, they are the shepherds ^{u56:11 So 1QIsaa; MT reads shepherds; LXX reads evil} who lack understanding; they have all turned to their own way, each one to his gain, each and every one.ISV — Isaiah 56:11

12 “‘Come!’ they say, ‘let’s ^{v56:12 So 1QIsaa MTms; 1QIsab reads I will; MT reads let me} have some wine, and let’s fill ourselves with strong drink! Then, ^{w56:12 Or And} tomorrow will be like today, ^{x56:12 1QIsaa reads this the day; 1QIsab MT read this day} or even much better!’”ISV — Isaiah 56:12