Isaiah 56:1-8

Good News Translation

God's People Will Include All Nations

56 The Lord says to his people, “Do what is just and right, for soon I will save you. ² I will bless those who always observe the Sabbath and do not misuse it. I will bless those who do nothing evil.”

³ A foreigner who has joined the Lord's people should not say, “The Lord will not let me worship with his people.”

A man who has been castrated should never think that because he cannot have children, he can never be part of God's people. ^4 (A)The Lord says to such a man, “If you honor me by observing the Sabbath and if you do what pleases me and faithfully keep my covenant, ⁵ then your name will be remembered in my Temple and among my people longer than if you had sons and daughters. You will never be forgotten.”

⁶ And the Lord says to those foreigners who become part of his people, who love him and serve him, who observe the Sabbath and faithfully keep his covenant: ^7 (B)“I will bring you to Zion, my sacred hill,^[a] give you joy in my house of prayer, and accept the sacrifices you offer on my altar. My Temple will be called a house of prayer for the people of all nations.”

⁸ The Sovereign Lord, who has brought his people Israel home from exile, has promised that he will bring still other people to join them.