Isaiah 56

1 This is what the Lord says: Preserve judgment and practice righteousness, because my rescue is near and my mercy is about to be revealed.

2 Blessed is the person who does these things and holds firmly to them, who keeps the Sabbaths without treating them as common and keeps his hands from wrongdoing.

3 Do not let the foreigner who attaches himself to the Lord say, ‘The Lord will surely separate me from his people.’ Do not let the eunuch say, ‘I am a dry tree.’

4 This is what the Lord says to the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, choose the things that please me, and hold firmly to my covenant:

5 I will give them an honored place in my house and within my walls, better than sons and daughters. I will give them an everlasting name that will not fail.

6 And as for the foreigners who attach themselves to the Lord, to serve him and love his name, becoming his male and female servants—all who keep my Sabbaths without treating them as common and hold firmly to my covenant—

7 I will bring them to my holy mountain and make them glad in my house of prayer. Their whole burnt offerings and sacrifices will be acceptable on my altar, because my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations,

8 says the Lord who gathers Israel’s scattered people. I will gather a gathering to him.

9 All you wild animals, come and devour—all you animals of the forest.

10 Look, they are all blind and understand nothing. They are silent dogs that do not bark, dreaming of rest and loving sleep.

11 The dogs are shameless in soul and never know fullness. They are evil and have no understanding. All have followed their own paths, each according to his own desire.