God calls everyone
1 This is what Yahweh says:
Maintain what is right
and do what is just,
for my salvation is close at hand,
my justice is soon to come.
2 Blessed is the mortal who does these things, and perseveres in them, who does not defile the sabbath and who refrains from evil.
3 Let no foreigner say, ¡°Surely Yahweh will exclude me from his people.¡± Neither let the castrated man say, ¡°I have become a mere dry tree.¡±
4 For this is what Yahweh says: To the castrated men who keep my sabbaths, who choose to do what pleases me and remain faithful to my covenant:
5 I will give them in my house and within its walls, a memorial and a name that are worth more than sons and daughters; I will give them a name that will never die away or be forgotten.
6 Yahweh says to the foreigners who join him, serving him and loving his name, keeping his sabbath unprofaned and remaining faithful to his covenant:
7 I will bring them to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. I will ac cept on my altar their burnt offerings and sacrifices, for my house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.
8 Thus says the Lord God, Yahweh, who gathers the exiles of Israel: There are others I will gather besides those already gathered.
Reproaches
9 All you wild beasts, come and de vour, all you beasts of the forests!
10 Blind are Israel¡¯s watchmen: they all see nothing. They are dumb watchdogs they are unable to bark. Lying down and dreaming, they love to slumber.
11 Greedy dogs that are never satisfied; shepherds of no discretion, they all turn their own way, everyone of them to his own gain.
12 ¡°Come, bring wine,¡± they say, ¡°and let us all get drunk, and tomorrow will be as today, or perhaps even a happier day.¡±
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Comments Isaiah, Chapter 56
• 56.1 The Jewish law ¨C reflecting the thinking of the times ¨C excluded foreigners in certain circumstances, as well as eunuchs, (castrated men) from their religious assemblies.
The proph et re veals that such exclusion is not endorsed by God.
In 56:9-13 we have poems against the leaders of Judah and against idolatry.
1 This is what Yahweh says:
Maintain what is right
and do what is just,
for my salvation is close at hand,
my justice is soon to come.
2 Blessed is the mortal who does these things, and perseveres in them, who does not defile the sabbath and who refrains from evil.
3 Let no foreigner say, ¡°Surely Yahweh will exclude me from his people.¡± Neither let the castrated man say, ¡°I have become a mere dry tree.¡±
4 For this is what Yahweh says: To the castrated men who keep my sabbaths, who choose to do what pleases me and remain faithful to my covenant:
5 I will give them in my house and within its walls, a memorial and a name that are worth more than sons and daughters; I will give them a name that will never die away or be forgotten.
6 Yahweh says to the foreigners who join him, serving him and loving his name, keeping his sabbath unprofaned and remaining faithful to his covenant:
7 I will bring them to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. I will ac cept on my altar their burnt offerings and sacrifices, for my house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.
8 Thus says the Lord God, Yahweh, who gathers the exiles of Israel: There are others I will gather besides those already gathered.
Reproaches
9 All you wild beasts, come and de vour, all you beasts of the forests!
10 Blind are Israel¡¯s watchmen: they all see nothing. They are dumb watchdogs they are unable to bark. Lying down and dreaming, they love to slumber.
11 Greedy dogs that are never satisfied; shepherds of no discretion, they all turn their own way, everyone of them to his own gain.
12 ¡°Come, bring wine,¡± they say, ¡°and let us all get drunk, and tomorrow will be as today, or perhaps even a happier day.¡±
------------------------------------------------------------
Comments Isaiah, Chapter 56
• 56.1 The Jewish law ¨C reflecting the thinking of the times ¨C excluded foreigners in certain circumstances, as well as eunuchs, (castrated men) from their religious assemblies.
The proph et re veals that such exclusion is not endorsed by God.
In 56:9-13 we have poems against the leaders of Judah and against idolatry.