<div class="version vid1849 iso6393eng" data-vid="1849" data-iso6393="eng">
   <div class="book bkISA">
      <div class="chapter ch56" data-usfm="ISA.56">
         <div class="label">56</div><div class="s1"><span class="heading">Joy for the Outcasts</span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="ISA.56.1"><span class="label">1</span><span class="nd"><span class="content">Yahweh</span></span><span class="content"> says </span><span class="it"><span class="content">to his people</span></span><span class="content">:</span></span></div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="ISA.56.1"><span class="content">&#8220;Promote the cause of justice!</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="ISA.56.1"><span class="content">Do what is just and right, </span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="ft">  </span><span class="fr">56:1</span><span class="ft">  </span><span class="ft">Or &#8220;Cultivate righteousness.&#8221;</span><span class="ft">  </span></span></span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="ISA.56.1"><span class="content">for soon my salvation will come</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="ISA.56.1"><span class="content">and my righteousness will be unveiled.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="ISA.56.2"><span class="label">2</span><span class="content">Blessed is the one who will faithfully keep his commitment.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="ISA.56.2"><span class="content">Yes, blessed is the one</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="ISA.56.2"><span class="content">who honors the Sabbath </span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="ft">  </span><span class="fr">56:2</span><span class="ft">  </span><span class="ft">For believers today, our Sabbath is now a man, the Lord Jesus Christ. We rest in the finished work of the cross. We cease from our own labors and enter into his Sabbath rest. See</span><span class="ft">  </span><span class="ref" data-usfm="HEB.4">Heb. 4</span><span class="ft">.</span><span class="ft">  </span></span></span><span class="content"> and does not disregard it,</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="ISA.56.2"><span class="content">and the one who keeps their hands from doing evil.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="ISA.56.3"><span class="label">3</span><span class="content">The foreigner who joins himself to </span><span class="nd"><span class="content">Yahweh</span></span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="ISA.56.3"><span class="content">should never say,</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="ISA.56.3"><span class="content">&#8220;</span><span class="it"><span class="content">Because I&#8217;m a foreigner</span></span><span class="content">,</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="ISA.56.3"><span class="nd"><span class="content">Yahweh</span></span><span class="content"> will exclude me from his people.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="ISA.56.3"><span class="content">And the eunuchs should never say,</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="ISA.56.3"><span class="content">&#8220;</span><span class="it"><span class="content">Because I can&#8217;t have children</span></span><span class="content">, I&#8217;m just a barren tree.&#8221; </span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="ft">  </span><span class="fr">56:3</span><span class="ft">  </span><span class="ft">This is a figure of speech, comparing being unable to procreate to being like a withered tree. Eunuchs were forbidden to worship with God&#8217;s people (see</span><span class="ft">  </span>Deut. 23:1<span class="ft">), but God&#8217;s mercy triumphs over rejection.</span><span class="ft">  </span></span></span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="ISA.56.4"><span class="label">4</span><span class="content">For </span><span class="nd"><span class="content">Yahweh</span></span><span class="content"> says </span><span class="it"><span class="content">to such a man</span></span><span class="content">,</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="ISA.56.4"><span class="content">&#8220;To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths,</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="ISA.56.4"><span class="content">and choose the things that honor me,</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="ISA.56.4"><span class="content">and remain true to my covenant, </span><span class="it"><span class="content">I make this promise</span></span><span class="content">:</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="ISA.56.5"><span class="label">5</span><span class="content">&#8216;I will bestow upon them within my household </span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="ft">  </span><span class="fr">56:5</span><span class="ft">  </span><span class="ft">Or &#8220;in my house and within my walls.&#8221; This becomes a figure of speech for God&#8217;s household or family, not a literal plaque in the temple.</span><span class="ft">  </span></span></span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="ISA.56.5"><span class="content">both an honored place and an honored name,</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="ISA.56.5"><span class="content">even better than the honor that comes from having children. </span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="ft">  </span><span class="fr">56:5</span><span class="ft">  </span><span class="ft">Or &#8220;a monument [memorial].&#8221; God is saying that grace is greater than our disqualifications. In spite of our imperfections, if we continue to honor God and his Word, favor will rest on our lives forever. This favor and name will endure longer than what comes from having children.</span><span class="ft">  </span></span></span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="ISA.56.5"><span class="content">I bestow upon them my everlasting favor; </span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="ft">  </span><span class="fr">56:5</span><span class="ft">  </span><span class="ft">Or &#8220;with an everlasting name.&#8221;</span><span class="ft">  </span></span></span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="ISA.56.5"><span class="content">you will never be forgotten.&#8217;</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="ISA.56.6"><span class="label">6</span><span class="content">And to the foreigners who join themselves to </span><span class="nd"><span class="content">Yahweh</span></span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="ISA.56.6"><span class="content">to worship him, those who want to be his servants</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="ISA.56.6"><span class="content">and love the name of </span><span class="nd"><span class="content">Yahweh</span></span><span class="content">&#8212;</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="ISA.56.6"><span class="content">all who honor the Sabbath and do not disregard it,</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="ISA.56.6"><span class="content">and who remain true to my covenant&#8212;</span><span class="it"><span class="content">I make this promise</span></span><span class="content">:</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="ISA.56.7"><span class="label">7</span><span class="content">&#8216;I will welcome you into my holy mountain </span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="ft">  </span><span class="fr">56:7</span><span class="ft">  </span><span class="nd">Yahweh</span><span class="ft">&#8217;s holy mountain is the Zion-realm. See</span><span class="ft">  </span><span class="ref" data-usfm="HEB.12.22+HEB.12.23+HEB.12.24">Heb. 12:22&#8211;24</span><span class="ft">.</span><span class="ft">  </span></span></span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="ISA.56.7"><span class="content">and make you joyful in my house of prayer. </span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="ft">  </span><span class="fr">56:7</span><span class="ft">  </span><span class="ft">God&#8217;s desire has always been to gather his people into the house of prayer. See</span><span class="ft">  </span><span class="ref" data-usfm="MAT.21.13">Matt. 21:13</span><span class="ft">;</span><span class="ft">  </span><span class="ref" data-usfm="MRK.11.17">Mark 11:17</span><span class="ft">;</span><span class="ft">  </span><span class="ref" data-usfm="LUK.19.46">Luke 19:46</span><span class="ft">.</span><span class="ft">  </span></span></span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="ISA.56.7"><span class="content">I will accept every sacrifice and offering</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="ISA.56.7"><span class="content">that you place on my altar,</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="ISA.56.7"><span class="content">for my house </span><span class="it"><span class="content">of worship</span></span><span class="content"> will be known</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="ISA.56.7"><span class="content">as a house of prayer for all people.&#8217;&#160;&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="ISA.56.8"><span class="label">8</span><span class="content">The Lord God Almighty,</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="ISA.56.8"><span class="content">who brings home the outcasts of Israel, says,</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="ISA.56.8"><span class="content">&#8220;There are many others I will gather,</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="ISA.56.8"><span class="content">and I will add them to those who are already gathered.&#8221; </span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="ft">  </span><span class="fr">56:8</span><span class="ft">  </span><span class="ft">See</span><span class="ft">  </span><span class="ref" data-usfm="JHN.17.20+JHN.17.21+JHN.17.22+JHN.17.23+JHN.17.24">John 17:20&#8211;24</span><span class="ft">.</span><span class="ft">  </span></span></span></span></div><div class="s1"><span class="heading">Corrupt Leaders</span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="ISA.56.9"><span class="label">9</span><span class="content">All you wild beasts, come and devour,</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="ISA.56.9"><span class="content">you wild animals of the forest.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="ISA.56.10"><span class="label">10</span><span class="content">Blind watchmen, all of them!</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="ISA.56.10"><span class="content">They have no revelation-knowledge;</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="ISA.56.10"><span class="content">they&#8217;re like dumb dogs that don&#8217;t even bark&#8212;</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="ISA.56.10"><span class="content">dreaming, sleeping, devoted to slumber.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="ISA.56.11"><span class="label">11</span><span class="content">They&#8217;re greedy dogs that never eat enough.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="ISA.56.11"><span class="content">And the shepherds have no discernment;</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="ISA.56.11"><span class="content">they follow their own desires.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="ISA.56.11"><span class="content">Every last one of them seeks his own profit.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="ISA.56.12"><span class="label">12</span><span class="content">Each one says, &#8220;Let&#8217;s get wine and liquor and have a party!</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="ISA.56.12"><span class="content">And tomorrow, more of the same, except even better!&#8221; </span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="ft">  </span><span class="fr">56:12</span><span class="ft">  </span><span class="ft">The Septuagint omits this verse.</span><span class="ft">  </span></span></span></span></div>
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YAHWEH says to his people:

“Promote the cause of justice!
Do what is just and right,
for soon my salvation will come
and my righteousness will be unveiled.
Blessed is the one who will faithfully keep his commitment.
Yes, blessed is the one
who honors the Sabbath and does not disregard it,
and the one who keeps their hands from doing evil.”

The foreigner who joins himself to YAHWEH
should never say,
“Because I’m a foreigner,
YAHWEH will exclude me from his people.”
And the eunuchs should never say,
“Because I can’t have children, I’m just a barren tree.”
For YAHWEH says to such a man,
“To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths,
and choose the things that honor me,
and remain true to my covenant, I make this promise:
‘I will bestow upon them within my household
both an honored place and an honored name,
even better than the honor that comes from having children.
I bestow upon them my everlasting favor;
you will never be forgotten.’
And to the foreigners who join themselves to YAHWEH
to worship him, those who want to be his servants
and love the name of YAHWEH—
all who honor the Sabbath and do not disregard it,
and who remain true to my covenant—I make this promise:
‘I will welcome you into my holy mountain
and make you joyful in my house of prayer.
I will accept every sacrifice and offering
that you place on my altar,
for my house of worship will be known
as a house of prayer for all people.’ ”
The Lord God Almighty,
who brings home the outcasts of Israel, says,
“There are many others I will gather,
and I will add them to those who are already gathered.”

All you wild beasts, come and devour,
you wild animals of the forest.
Blind watchmen, all of them!
They have no revelation-knowledge;
they’re like dumb dogs that don’t even bark—
dreaming, sleeping, devoted to slumber.
They’re greedy dogs that never eat enough.
And the shepherds have no discernment;
they follow their own desires.
Every last one of them seeks his own profit.
Each one says, “Let’s get wine and liquor and have a party!
And tomorrow, more of the same, except even better!”

සවන් දෙන්න Isaiah 56