Isaiah 56
Contemporary English Version

All Nations Will Be Part of God's People

1The Lord said:

Be honest and fair!

Soon I will come to save you;

my saving power will be seen

everywhere on earth.

2I will bless everyone

who respects the Sabbath

and refuses to do wrong.

3Foreigners 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.

5Then you will be like 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.

6Foreigners 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.

8I, 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

9Come from the forest,

you wild animals!

Attack and gobble up

your victims.

10You 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.

11You 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.

12You say to each other,

“Let's drink till we're drunk!

Tomorrow we'll do it again.

We'll really enjoy ourselves.”



Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)

© 2006 American Bible Society.  All rights reserved.

Bible text from the Contemporary English Version 2nd Edition (CEV®) is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by American Bible Society, 101 North Independence Mall East, Floor 8, Philadelphia, PA 19106-2155  (www.americanbible.org). Learn more at www.cev.bible. Discover .BIBLE resources for your ministry at www.get.bible/cev



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