Isaiah 56
New American Bible Revised Edition

III. Isaiah 56—66

Salvation for the Just*

1* Thus says the Lord:

Observe what is right, do what is just,

for my salvation is about to come,

my justice, about to be revealed.a

2Happy is the one who does this,

whoever holds fast to it:

Keeping the sabbath without profaning it,

keeping one’s hand from doing any evil.b

Obligations and Promises to Share in the Covenant

3* The foreigner joined to the Lord should not say,

“The Lord will surely exclude me from his people”;

Nor should the eunuch say,

“See, I am a dry tree.”c

4For thus says the Lord:

To the eunuchs who keep my sabbaths,

who choose what pleases me,

and who hold fast to my covenant,d

5I will give them, in my house

and within my walls, a monument and a name*

Better than sons and daughters;

an eternal name, which shall not be cut off, will I give them.

6And foreigners who join themselves to the Lord,

to minister to him,

To love the name of the Lord,

to become his servants—

All who keep the sabbath without profaning it

and hold fast to my covenant,

7* Them I will bring to my holy mountain

and make them joyful in my house of prayer;

Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices

will be acceptable on my altar,

For my house shall be called

a house of prayer for all peoples.e

8* Oracle of the Lord God,

who gathers the dispersed of Israel—

Others will I gather to them

besides those already gathered.f

Unworthy Shepherds*

9All you beasts of the field,*

come to devour,

all you beasts in the forest!g

10* All the sentinels of Israel are blind,

they are without knowledge;

They are all mute dogs,

unable to bark;

Dreaming, reclining,

loving their sleep.

11Yes, the dogs have a ravenous appetite;

they never know satiety,

Shepherds who have no understanding;

all have turned their own way,

each one covetous for gain:

12“Come, let me bring wine;

let us fill ourselves with strong drink,

And tomorrow will be like today,

or even greater.”h


Book Introduction

Footnotes

Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.





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