Skip to content

All the faithful will receive salvation from the Lord—even Gentiles. The leaders of Israel, however, have failed to remain faithful to the Lord.

BibleGateway: Isaiah 56

ESV Text: Isaiah 56

Isaiah 56 (Listen)

Salvation for Foreigners


56:1   Thus says the LORD:
  “Keep justice, and do righteousness,
  for soon my salvation will come,
    and my righteousness be revealed.
  Blessed is the man who does this,
    and the son of man who holds it fast,
  who keeps the Sabbath, not profaning it,
    and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”


  Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say,
    “The LORD will surely separate me from his people”;
  and let not the eunuch say,
    “Behold, I am a dry tree.”
  For thus says the LORD:
  “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths,
    who choose the things that please me
    and hold fast my covenant,
  I will give in my house and within my walls
    a monument and a name
    better than sons and daughters;
  I will give them an everlasting name
    that shall not be cut off.


  “And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD,
    to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD,
    and to be his servants,
  everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it,
    and holds fast my covenant—
  these I will bring to my holy mountain,
    and make them joyful in my house of prayer;
  their burnt offerings and their sacrifices
    will be accepted on my altar;
  for my house shall be called a house of prayer
    for all peoples.”
  The Lord GOD,
    who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares,
  “I will gather yet others to him
    besides those already gathered.”

Israel’s Irresponsible Leaders


  All you beasts of the field, come to devour—
    all you beasts in the forest.
10   His watchmen are blind;
    they are all without knowledge;
  they are all silent dogs;
    they cannot bark,
  dreaming, lying down,
    loving to slumber.
11   The dogs have a mighty appetite;
    they never have enough.
  But they are shepherds who have no understanding;
    they have all turned to their own way,
    each to his own gain, one and all.
12   “Come,” they say, “let me get wine;
    let us fill ourselves with strong drink;
  and tomorrow will be like this day,
    great beyond measure.”

(ESV)


KJV Text: Isaiah 56:1-12

Right click here to save the file for off-line use.

KJV Text (alt. audio): Chapter 56:

     1 Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. 2 Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.

     3 Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. 4 For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; 5 Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. 6 Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; 7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. 8 The Lord GOD which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.

     9 All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, yea, all ye beasts in the forest. 10 His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. 11 Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. 12 Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.(KJV)


Hymn: WS 741 : When Morning Gilds the Skies

Hymnary.org

1. When morning gilds the skies
my heart awaking cries:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
When evening shadows fall,
Then sounds my vespers call:
May Jesus Christ be praised!

2. When mirth for music longs,
this is my song of songs:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
God’s holy house of prayer
Has none that can compare
With Jesus Christ be praised!

3. Sing, sun and stars of space,
sing, all who see His face,
Sing, Jesus Christ be praised!
God’s whole creation o’er,
today and evermore
Sing Jesus Christ be praised!


Hymn: LSB 807 : When Morning Gilds the Skies

Hymnary.org

1. When morning gilds the skies,
My heart, awaking, cries,
“May Jesus Christ be praised!”
When evening shadows fall,
This rings my curfew call:
“May Jesus Christ be praised!”

2. When mirth for music longs,
This is my song of songs:
“May Jesus Christ be praised!”
God’s holy house of prayer
Hath none that can compare
With “Jesus Christ be praised!”

3. No lovelier antiphon
In all high heav’n is known
Than “Jesus Christ be praised!”
There to the eternal Word
The eternal psalm is heard:
“May Jesus Christ be praised!”

4. Ye nations of mankind,
In this your concord find:
“May Jesus Christ be praised!”
Let all the earth around
Ring joyous with the sound:
“May Jesus Christ be praised!”

5. Sing, sun and stars of space,
Sing, ye that see His face,
Sing, “Jesus Christ be praised!”
God’s whole creation o’er,
Both now and evermore
Shall Jesus Christ be praised!