A House of Prayer for All

56 This is what the Lord says:

Preserve justice and do what is right,(A)
for my salvation is coming soon,
and my righteousness will be revealed.(B)
Happy is the person who does this,
the son of man who holds it fast,
who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it,
and keeps his hand from doing any evil.(C)

No foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord
should say,
“The Lord will exclude me from his people,”(D)
and the eunuch should not say,
“Look, I am a dried-up tree.”(E)
For the Lord says this:
“For the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths,
and choose what pleases me,
and hold firmly to my covenant,
I will give them, in my house and within my walls,
a memorial and a name
better than sons and daughters.
I will give each of them an everlasting name
that will never be cut off.(F)
As for the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord
to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord,
and to become his servants—
all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it
and who hold firmly to my covenant—
I will bring them to my holy mountain(G)
and let them rejoice in my house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and sacrifices
will be acceptable on my altar,(H)
for my house will be called a house of prayer
for all nations.”(I)
This is the declaration of the Lord God,
who gathers the dispersed of Israel:
“I will gather to them still others
besides those already gathered.”(J)

Read full chapter

Mission to Rebellious Israel

He said to me, “Son of man, stand up on your feet(A) and I will speak with you.” As he spoke to me, the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet,(B) and I listened to the one who was speaking to me. He said to me, “Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to[a] the rebellious pagans who have rebelled against me. The Israelites and their ancestors have transgressed against me to this day.(C) The descendants are obstinate[b] and hardhearted.(D) I am sending you to them, and you must say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says.’ Whether they listen or refuse to listen(E)—for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them.(F)

“But you, son of man, do not be afraid of them and do not be afraid of their words,(G) even though briers and thorns are beside you and you live among scorpions.(H) Don’t be afraid of their words or discouraged by the look on their faces, for they are a rebellious house. Speak my words to them whether they listen or refuse to listen,(I) for they are rebellious.

“And you, son of man, listen to what I tell you: Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth and eat what I am giving you.”(J) So I looked and saw a hand reaching out to me,(K) and there was a written scroll in it.(L) 10 When he unrolled it before me, it was written on the front and back; words of lamentation, mourning, and woe were written on it.

Footnotes

  1. 2:3 Or Israelites and to
  2. 2:4 Lit hard of face

Bible Gateway Recommends

CSB Jesus Daily Bible--hardcover
CSB Jesus Daily Bible--hardcover
Retail: $29.99
Our Price: $21.99
Save: $8.00 (27%)
CSB She Reads Truth Bible, Navy LeatherTouch
CSB She Reads Truth Bible, Navy LeatherTouch
Retail: $49.99
Our Price: $23.94
Save: $26.05 (52%)
4.5 of 5.0 stars
CSB Apologetics Study Bible for Students, Hardcover
CSB Apologetics Study Bible for Students, Hardcover
Retail: $34.99
Our Price: $17.50
Save: $17.49 (50%)
4.5 of 5.0 stars
CSB One Big Story Bible, Hardcover
CSB One Big Story Bible, Hardcover
Retail: $34.99
Our Price: $20.00
Save: $14.99 (43%)