Isaie

Chapter 56

  1. 1

    Keep right order, the Lord says, faithful to your duty still; ere long I will send deliverance, my own faithfulness shall be revealed.

  2. 2

    Blessed, every man that so lives, every mother’s son that by this rule holds fast, keeps the sabbath holy, and his own hands clear of mischief.

  3. 3

    Proselyte let him be, of alien birth, will the Lord deny him citizenship? Eunuch let him be, is he no better than a barren trunk, cut down as worthless?

  4. 4

    Nay, for yonder eunuch the Lord has this message: Who keeps my sabbath? Who makes my will his choice, true to my covenant?

  5. 5

    A place he shall have in this house, within these walls of mine a memorial; son nor daughter his name could so perpetuate; such a memorial I will grant him as time shall never efface.

  6. 6

    And so it shall be with the alien born, will they but throw in their lot with the Lord’s worshippers, that cherish the love of his name; the Lord’s servants that keep the sabbath inviolate, and are true to his covenant.

  7. 7

    Free of the mountain that is my sanctuary, welcome guests in the house where men pray to me, not vainly to my altar they shall bring burnt-offering and sacrifice. Claimed my house shall be, for a house of prayer, by all the nations.

  8. 8

    Such promise the Lord God makes, that now brings home the exiled sons of Israel: I have others to bring, that must yet rally to thy side.

  9. 9

    Come, all you wild things, all you beasts of the forest, your prey awaits you!

  10. 10

    Here are none but blind watchmen, all unawares; here are dumb dogs that cannot bark, false seers that lie sleeping, in love with their dreams;

  11. 11

    shameless dogs that cannot tell when they are gorged with food. The very shepherds have forgotten their craft; see them go their ways, each busy, first and last, with gorging his own appetite:

  12. 12

    Fetch we wine, and drink ourselves drunk! To-morrow shall be as to-day was, and braver, braver yet!