Isaiah 56

International Standard Version

³ “Let^[c] 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!^[d] I am just a dry tree.’”
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—
⁵ to them I will give in my house^[e] and within my walls
    a monument and a name
        better than sons and daughters.
I will give them^[f] an everlasting name
    that will not be cut off.^[g]

⁶ “Also, the foreigners who join themselves to^[h] the Lord,
    to minister to him,
        to love the name of the Lord,^[i]
to be his servants,
    and to bless the Lord’s name,
observing^[j] the Sabbath without profaning it,
    and who hold fast my covenant—
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^[k] on my altar;
for my house will be called a house of prayer
    for everyone.”^[l]

“I’ll gather still others to them
    besides those already gathered.^[m]

⁹ “All you wild animals,^[n] come and devour—
    even^[o] all of you wild animals.^[p]
10 His^[q] watchmen^[r] 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!^[s]
11 Meanwhile,^[t] the dogs have a mighty appetite—
    they can never get enough.
And as for them, they are the shepherds^[u] who lack understanding;
    they have all turned to their own way,
each one to his gain,
    each and every one.

¹² “‘Come!’ they say, ‘let’s^[v] have some wine,
    and let’s fill ourselves with strong drink!
Then,^[w] tomorrow will be like today,^[x]
    or even much better!’”