1. This is what the Lord says:‘Maintain justiceand do what is right,for my salvation is close at handand my righteousness will soon be revealed.
2. Blessed is the one who does this –the person who holds it fast,who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it,and keeps their hands from doing any evil.’
3. Let no foreigner who is bound to the Lord say,‘The Lord will surely exclude me from his people.’And let no eunuch complain,‘I am only a dry tree.’
4. For this is what the Lord says:‘To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths,who choose what pleases meand hold fast to my covenant –
5. to them I will give within my temple and its wallsa memorial and a namebetter than sons and daughters;I will give them an everlasting namethat will endure for ever.
6. And foreigners who bind themselves to the Lordto minister to him,to love the name of the Lord,and to be his servants,all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating itand who hold fast to my covenant –
7. these I will bring to my holy mountainand give them joy in my house of prayer.Their burnt offerings and sacrificeswill be accepted on my altar;for my house will be calleda house of prayer for all nations.’
8. The Sovereign Lord declares –he who gathers the exiles of Israel:‘I will gather still others to thembesides those already gathered.’
9. Come, all you beasts of the field,come and devour, all you beasts of the forest!
10. Israel’s watchmen are blind,they all lack knowledge;they are all mute dogs,they cannot bark;they lie around and dream,they love to sleep.
11. They are dogs with mighty appetites;they never have enough.They are shepherds who lack understanding;they all turn to their own way,they seek their own gain.
12. ‘Come,’ each one cries, ‘let me get wine!Let us drink our fill of beer!And tomorrow will be like today,or even far better.’