Isaiah 56
1 Thus saith the Lord, Keep ye
judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my mercy to be
revealed. 2 Blessed is the man that
does these things, and the man that holds by them, and keeps the sabbaths from
profaning them, and keeps his hands from doing unrighteousness.
3 Let not the stranger who attaches
himself to the Lord, say, Surely the Lord will separate me from his people:
and let not the eunuch say, I am a dry tree.
4 Thus saith the Lord to the eunuchs,
as many as shall keep my sabbaths, and choose the things which I take pleasure
in, and take hold of my covenant; 5 I
will give to them in my house and within my walls an honourable place, better
than sons and daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, and it shall
not fail. 6 And
I will give it to the strangers that attach
themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be
to him servants and handmaids; and as for all that
keep my sabbaths from profaning them, and that take
hold of my covenant; 7 I will bring
them to my holy mountain, and gladden them in my house of prayer: their
whole-burnt-offerings and their sacrifices shall be acceptable upon mine
altar; for
aMat. 21. 13.
my house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations,
8 saith the Lord that gathers the
dispersed of Israel; for I will gather to him a congregation.
9 All ye beasts of the field, come,
devour, all ye beasts of the forest.
10 See how they are all blinded: they
have not known; they are dumb dogs
that will not bark; dreaming of rest, loving to
slumber. 11 Yea, they are insatiable
dogs, that know not what it is to be filled, and they are wicked, having no
understanding: all have followed their own ways, each according to his own
will.