Isaiah 56
What Happens in This Chapter
God tells his people to be fair and do what is right, because his help is coming soon. He promises that foreigners who join him, and eunuchs who keep his covenant, will be welcome in his house and given a lasting name. He says his house will be called a house of prayer for all people, and he will gather more people to Israel. The chapter ends by describing Israel's watchmen as blind, sleepy, and greedy leaders who only look out for themselves.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.
1This is what the LORD says. Be fair to people. Do what is right. My help is coming very soon. Soon everyone will see how good and right I am.
2Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.
2God is pleased with the person who does this. He is pleased with anyone who holds on tight to it. That person keeps the Sabbath day special and clean. That person keeps his hands from doing anything wrong.
3Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.
3Someone from another land may join himself to the LORD. He should not say, "The LORD will keep me out of his people." A eunuch, a man who cannot have children, should not say this either: "I am only a dead, dry tree."
A eunuch was a man who could not have children. In Israel, that meant no family line to carry his name. "A dry tree" was his way of saying he felt useless and finished.
4For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant;
4This is what the LORD says to the eunuchs. He speaks to the ones who keep his Sabbath days. He speaks to the ones who choose what makes him happy. He speaks to the ones who hold tight to his covenant, his promise agreement.
5Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.
5I will give them a place inside my house and my walls. I will give them a name better than sons and daughters. I will give them a name that lasts forever. That name will never be cut off.
6Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;
6The LORD also speaks about people from other lands. They join themselves to the LORD to serve him. They love the name of the LORD. They want to be his servants. They keep the Sabbath day special and clean. They hold tight to his covenant, his promise agreement.
7Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.
7I will bring them to my holy mountain. I will make them glad in my house of prayer. I will accept their gifts and offerings on my altar. My house will be called a house of prayer for all people.
8The Lord GOD, which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.
8The Lord GOD gathers the people of Israel who were scattered far away. He says, "I will gather still more people to join them."
9All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, yea, all ye beasts in the forest.
9Come, all you wild animals of the field. Come and eat. Come, all you animals of the forest.
10His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.
10Israel's watchmen are blind. Not one of them knows what is going on. They are like dogs that cannot bark. They lie around, sleeping, and they love to nap.
A watchman stood on the city wall to look out for danger and shout a warning. Here the word means Israel's leaders, who were supposed to warn the people but stayed quiet.
11Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.
11They are like hungry dogs that never get enough. They are shepherds who do not understand anything. Each one goes his own way. Each one wants more for himself.
12Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.
12They say, "Come on! I will go get wine. Let us drink our fill of strong drink. Tomorrow will be just like today, only even better!"
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