Lectionary Calendar
Sunday, November 24th, 2024
the Week of Christ the King / Proper 29 / Ordinary 34
Attention!
StudyLight.org has pledged to help build churches in Uganda. Help us with that pledge and support pastors in the heart of Africa.
Click here to join the effort!

Read the Bible

Contemporary English Version

Isaiah 56

All Nations Will Be Part of God's People

1 The Lord said:

    Be honest and fair!
Soon I will come to save you;
my saving power will be seen
    everywhere on earth.

2 I will bless everyone
who respects the Sabbath
    and refuses to do wrong.

3 Foreigners who worship me
    must not say,
"The Lord won't let us
    be part of his people."
Men who are unable
    to become fathers
must no longer say,
    "We are dried-up trees."

4 To them, I, the Lord, say:
    Respect the Sabbath,
    obey me completely,
    and keep our agreement.
5 Then I will set up monuments
in my temple
with your names
    written on them.
This will be much better
    than having children,
because these monuments
    will stand there forever.

6 Foreigners will follow me.
They will love me
and worship
    in my name;
they will respect the Sabbath
    and keep our agreement.
7 I will bring them
    to my holy mountain,
where they will celebrate
    in my house of worship.
Their sacrifices and offerings
will always be welcome
    on my altar.
Then my house will be known
as a house of worship
    for all nations.
8 I, the Lord, promise
to bring together my people
    who were taken away,
and let them join the others.

God Promises To Punish Israel's Leaders

9 Come from the forest,
    you wild animals!
Attack and gobble down
    your victims.
10 You leaders of Israel
should be watchdogs,
    protecting my people.
But you can't see a thing,
    and you never warn them.
Dozing and daydreaming
    are all you ever do.
11 You stupid leaders are a pack
of hungry and greedy dogs
    that never get enough.
You are shepherds
who mistreat your own sheep
    for selfish gain.
12 You say to each other,
"Let's drink till we're drunk!
    Tomorrow we'll do it again.
We'll really enjoy ourselves."

 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile