The Message

The Party’s Over

1-3 “Get off your high horse and sit in the dirt,

virgin daughter of Babylon.

No more throne for you—sit on the ground,

daughter of the Chaldeans.

Nobody will be calling you ‘charming’

and ‘alluring’ anymore. Get used to it.

Get a job, any old job:

Clean gutters, scrub toilets.

Hock your gowns and scarves,

put on overalls—the party’s over.

Your nude body will be on public display,

exposed to vulgar taunts.

It’s vengeance time, and I’m taking vengeance.

No one gets let off the hook.”

You’re Acting Like the Center of the Universe

4-13 Our Redeemer speaks,

namedGod-of-the-Angel-Armies, The Holy of Israel:

“Shut up and get out of the way,

daughter of Chaldeans.

You’ll no longer be called

‘First Lady of the Kingdoms.’

I was fed up with my people,

thoroughly disgusted with my progeny.

I turned them over to you,

but you had no compassion.

You put old men and women

to cruel, hard labor.

You said, ‘I’m the First Lady.

I’ll always be the pampered darling.’

You took nothing seriously, took nothing to heart,

never gave tomorrow a thought.

Well, start thinking, playgirl.

You’re acting like the center of the universe,

Smugly saying to yourself, ‘I’m Number One. There’s nobody but me.

I’ll never be a widow, I’ll never lose my children.’

Those two things are going to hit you both at once,

suddenly, on the same day:

Spouse and children gone, a total loss,

despite your many enchantments and charms.

You were so confident and comfortable in your evil life,

saying, ‘No one sees me.’

You thought you knew so much, had everything figured out.

What delusion!

Smugly telling yourself, ‘I’m Number One. There’s nobody but me.’

Ruin descends—

you can’t charm it away.

Disaster strikes—

you can’t cast it off with spells.

Catastrophe, sudden and total—

and you’re totally at sea, totally bewildered!

But don’t give up. From your great repertoire

of enchantments there must be one you haven’t yet tried.

You’ve been at this a long time.

Surelysomethingwill work.

I know you’re exhausted trying out remedies,

but don’t give up.

Call in the astrologers and stargazers.

They’re good at this. Surely they can work up something!

14-15 “Fat chance. You’d be grasping at straws

that are already in the fire,

A fire that is even now raging.

Your ‘experts’ are in it and won’t get out.

It’s not a fire for cooking venison stew,

not a fire to warm you on a winter night!

That’s the fate of your friends in sorcery, your magician buddies

you’ve been in cahoots with all your life.

They reel, confused, bumping into one another.

None of them bother to help you.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/85/32k/ISA/47-4856145458156f8bd9de9ca73469aa97.mp3?version_id=97—

Tested in the Furnace of Affliction

1-11 “And now listen to this, family of Jacob,

you who are called by the name Israel:

Who got you started in the loins of Judah,

you who useGod’s name to back up your promises

and pray to the God of Israel?

But do you mean it?

Do you live like it?

You claim to be citizens of the Holy City;

you act as though you lean on the God of Israel,

namedGod-of-the-Angel-Armies.

For a long time now, I’ve let you in on the way I work:

I told you what I was going to do beforehand,

then I did it and it was done, and that’s that.

I know you’re a bunch of hardheads,

obstinate and flint-faced,

So I got a running start and began telling you

what was going on before it even happened.

That is why you can’t say,

‘My god-idol did this.’

‘My favorite god-carving commanded this.’

You have all this evidence

confirmed by your own eyes and ears.

Shouldn’t you be talking about it?

And that was just the beginning.

I have a lot more to tell you,

things you never knew existed.

This isn’t a variation on the same old thing.

This is new, brand-new,

something you’d never guess or dream up.

When you hear this you won’t be able to say,

‘I knew that all along.’

You’ve never been good listeners to me.

You have a history of ignoring me,

A sorry track record of fickle attachments—

rebels from the womb.

But out of the sheer goodness of my heart,

because of who I am,

I keep a tight rein on my anger and hold my temper.

I don’t wash my hands of you.

Do you see what I’ve done?

I’ve refined you, but not without fire.

I’ve tested you like silver in the furnace of affliction.

Out of myself, simply because of who I am, I do what I do.

I have my reputation to keep up.

I’m not playing second fiddle to either gods or people.

12-13 “Listen, Jacob. Listen, Israel—

I’m the One who named you!

I’m the One.

I got things started and, yes, I’ll wrap them up.

Earth is my work, handmade.

And the skies—I made them, too, horizon to horizon.

When I speak, they’re on their feet, at attention.

14-16 “Come everybody, gather around, listen:

Who among the gods has delivered the news?

I,God, love this man Cyrus, and I’m using him

to do what I want with Babylon.

I, yes I, have spoken. I’ve called him.

I’ve brought him here. He’ll be successful.

Come close, listen carefully:

I’ve never kept secrets from you.

I’ve always been present with you.”

Your Progeny, Like Grains of Sand

16-19 And now, the Master,God, sends me and his Spirit

with this Message fromGod

your Redeemer, The Holy of Israel:

“I amGod, your God,

who teaches you how to live right and well.

I show you what to do, where to go.

If you had listened all along to what I told you,

your life would have flowed full like a river,

blessings rolling in like waves from the sea.

Children and grandchildren are like sand,

your progeny like grains of sand.

There would be no end of them,

no danger of losing touch with me.”

20 Get out of Babylon! Run from the Babylonians!

Shout the news. Broadcast it.

Let the world know, the whole world.

Tell them, “Godredeemed his dear servant Jacob!”

21 They weren’t thirsty when he led them through the deserts.

He made water pour out of the rock;

he split the rock and the water gushed.

22 “There is no peace,” saysGod, “for the wicked.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/85/32k/ISA/48-9ef07305cdc1d5ec8b2e5c1da6bb9761.mp3?version_id=97—

A Light for the Nations

1-3 Listen, far-flung islands,

pay attention, faraway people:

Godput me to work from the day I was born.

The moment I entered the world he named me.

He gave me speech that would cut and penetrate.

He kept his hand on me to protect me.

He made me his straight arrow

and hid me in his quiver.

He said to me, “You’re my dear servant,

Israel, through whom I’ll shine.”

4 But I said, “I’ve worked for nothing.

I’ve nothing to show for a life of hard work.

Nevertheless, I’ll letGodhave the last word.

I’ll let him pronounce his verdict.”

5-6 “And now,”Godsays,

this God who took me in hand

from the moment of birth to be his servant,

To bring Jacob back home to him,

to set a reunion for Israel—

What an honor for me inGod’s eyes!

That God should be my strength!

He says, “But that’s not a big enough job for my servant—

just to recover the tribes of Jacob,

merely to round up the strays of Israel.

I’m setting you up as a light for thenations

so that my salvation becomesglobal!”

7 God, Redeemer of Israel, The Holy of Israel,

says to the despised one, kicked around by the nations,

slave labor to the ruling class:

“Kings will see, get to their feet—the princes, too—

and then fall on their faces in homage

Because ofGod, who has faithfully kept his word,

The Holy of Israel, who has chosen you.”

8-12 Godalso says:

“When the time’s ripe, I answer you.

When victory’s due, I help you.

I form you and use you

to reconnect the people with me,

To put the land in order,

to resettle families on the ruined properties.

I tell prisoners, ‘Come on out. You’re free!’

and those huddled in fear, ‘It’s all right. It’s safe now.’

There’ll be foodstands along all the roads,

picnics on all the hills—

Nobody hungry, nobody thirsty,

shade from the sun, shelter from the wind,

For the Compassionate One guides them,

takes them to the best springs.

I’ll make all my mountains into roads,

turn them into a superhighway.

Look: These coming from far countries,

and those, out of the north,

These streaming in from the west,

and those from all the way down the Nile!”

13 Heavens, raise the roof! Earth, wake the dead!

Mountains, send up cheers!

Godhas comforted his people.

He has tenderly nursed his beaten-up, beaten-down people.

14 But Zion said, “I don’t get it.Godhas left me.

My Master has forgotten I even exist.”

15-18 “Can a mother forget the infant at her breast,

walk away from the baby she bore?

But even if mothers forget,

I’d never forget you—never.

Look, I’ve written your names on the backs of my hands.

The walls you’re rebuilding are never out of my sight.

Your builders are faster than your wreckers.

The demolition crews are gone for good.

Look up, look around, look well!

See them all gathering, coming to you?

As sure as I am the living God”—God’s Decree—

“you’re going to put them on like so much jewelry,

you’re going to use them to dress up like a bride.

19-21 “And your ruined land?

Your devastated, decimated land?

Filled with more people than you know what to do with!

And your barbarian enemies, a fading memory.

The children born in your exile will be saying,

‘It’s getting too crowded here. I need more room.’

And you’ll say to yourself,

‘Where on earth did these children come from?

I lost everything, had nothing, was exiled and penniless.

So who reared these children?

How did these children get here?’”

22-23 The Master,God, says:

“Look! I signal to the nations,

I raise my flag to summon the people.

Here they’ll come: women carrying your little boys in their arms,

men carrying your little girls on their shoulders.

Kings will be your babysitters,

princesses will be your nursemaids.

They’ll offer to do all your drudge work—

scrub your floors, do your laundry.

You’ll know then that I amGod.

No one who hopes in me ever regrets it.”

24-26 Can plunder be retrieved from a giant,

prisoners of war gotten back from a tyrant?

ButGodsays, “Even if a giant grips the plunder

and a tyrant holds my people prisoner,

I’m the one who’s on your side,

defending your cause, rescuing your children.

And your enemies, crazed and desperate, will turn on themselves,

killing each other in a frenzy of self-destruction.

Then everyone will know that I,God,

have saved you—I, the Mighty One of Jacob.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/85/32k/ISA/49-ec12b77deeb8554752e74bb8961bbef1.mp3?version_id=97—

Who Out There Fears God?

1-3 Godsays:

“Can you produce your mother’s divorce papers

proving I got rid of her?

Can you produce a receipt

proving I sold you?

Of course you can’t.

It’s your sins that put you here,

your wrongs that got you shipped out.

So why didn’t anyone come when I knocked?

Why didn’t anyone answer when I called?

Do you think I’ve forgotten how to help?

Am I so decrepit that I can’t deliver?

I’m as powerful as ever,

and can reverse what I once did:

I can dry up the sea with a word,

turn river water into desert sand,

And leave the fish stinking in the sun,

stranded on dry land . . .

Turn all the lights out in the sky

and pull down the curtain.”

4-9 The Master,God, has given me

a well-taught tongue,

So I know how to encourage tired people.

He wakes me up in the morning,

Wakes me up, opens my ears

to listen as one ready to take orders.

The Master,God, opened my ears,

and I didn’t go back to sleep,

didn’t pull the covers back over my head.

I followed orders,

stood there and took it while they beat me,

held steady while they pulled out my beard,

Didn’t dodge their insults,

faced them as they spit in my face.

And the Master,God, stays right there and helps me,

so I’m not disgraced.

Therefore I set my face like flint,

confident that I’ll never regret this.

My champion is right here.

Let’s take our stand together!

Who dares bring suit against me?

Let him try!

Look! the Master,God, is right here.

Who would dare call me guilty?

Look! My accusers are a clothes bin of threadbare

socks and shirts, fodder for moths!

10-11 Who out there fearsGod,

actually listens to the voice of his servant?

For anyone out there who doesn’t know where you’re going,

anyone groping in the dark,

Here’s what: Trust inGod.

Leanon your God!

But if all you’re after is making trouble,

playing with fire,

Go ahead and see where it gets you.

Set your fires, stir people up, blow on the flames,

But don’t expect me to just stand there and watch.

I’ll hold your feet to those flames.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/85/32k/ISA/50-6893a3f4ec13aedc26b3e230a43bf3bc.mp3?version_id=97—

Committed to Seeking God

1-3 “Listen to me, all you who are serious about right living

and committed to seekingGod.

Ponder the rock from which you were cut,

the quarry from which you were dug.

Yes, ponder Abraham, your father,

and Sarah, who bore you.

Think of it! One solitary man when I called him,

but once I blessed him, he multiplied.

Likewise I,God, will comfort Zion,

comfort all her mounds of ruins.

I’ll transform her dead ground into Eden,

her moonscape into the garden ofGod,

A place filled with exuberance and laughter,

thankful voices and melodic songs.

4-6 “Pay attention, my people.

Listen to me, nations.

Revelation flows from me.

My decisions light up the world.

My deliverance arrives on the run,

my salvation right on time.

I’ll bring justice to the peoples.

Even faraway islands will look to me

and take hope in my saving power.

Look up at the skies,

ponder the earth under your feet.

The skies will fade out like smoke,

the earth will wear out like work pants,

and the people will die off like flies.

But my salvation will last forever,

my setting-things-right will never be obsolete.

7-8 “Listen now, you who know right from wrong,

you who hold my teaching inside you:

Pay no attention to insults, and when mocked

don’t let it get you down.

Those insults and mockeries are moth-eaten,

from brains that are termite-ridden,

But my setting-things-right lasts,

my salvation goes on and on and on.”

9-11 Wake up, wake up, flex your muscles,God!

Wake up as in the old days, in the long ago.

Didn’t you once make mincemeat of Rahab,

dispatch the old chaos-dragon?

And didn’t you once dry up the sea,

the powerful waters of the deep,

And then made the bottom of the ocean a road

for the redeemed to walk across?

In the same wayGod’s ransomed will come back,

come back to Zion cheering, shouting,

Joy eternal wreathing their heads,

exuberant ecstasies transporting them—

and not a sign of moans or groans.

What Are You Afraid of—or Who?

12-16 “I, I’m the One comforting you.

What are you afraid of—or who?

Some man or woman who’ll soon be dead?

Some poor wretch destined for dust?

You’ve forgotten me,God, who made you,

who unfurled the skies, who founded the earth.

And here you are, quaking like an aspen

before the tantrums of a tyrant

who thinks he can kick down the world.

But what will come of the tantrums?

The victims will be released before you know it.

They’re not going to die.

They’re not even going to go hungry.

For I amGod, your very own God,

who stirs up the sea and whips up the waves,

namedGod-of-the-Angel-Armies.

I teach you how to talk, word by word,

and personally watch over you,

Even while I’m unfurling the skies,

setting earth on solid foundations,

and greeting Zion: ‘Welcome, my people!’”

17-20 So wake up! Rub the sleep from your eyes!

Up on your feet, Jerusalem!

You’ve drunk the cupGodhanded you,

the strong drink of his anger.

You drank it down to the last drop,

staggered and collapsed, dead-drunk.

And nobody to help you home,

no one among your friends or children

to take you by the hand and put you in bed.

You’ve been hit with a double dose of trouble

—does anyone care?

Assault and battery, hunger and death

—will anyone comfort?

Your sons and daughters have passed out,

strewn in the streets like stunned rabbits,

Sleeping off the strong drink ofGod’s anger,

the rage of your God.

21-23 Therefore listen, please,

you with your splitting headaches,

You who are nursing the hangovers

that didn’t come from drinking wine.

Your Master, yourGod, has something to say,

your God has taken up his people’s case:

“Look, I’ve taken back the drink that sent you reeling.

No more drinking from that jug of my anger!

I’ve passed it over to your abusers to drink, those who ordered you,

‘Down on the ground so we can walk all over you!’

And you had to do it. Flat on the ground,

you were the dirt under their feet.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/85/32k/ISA/51-b72c0a968b6d5e35ca8ff35cc7883fb7.mp3?version_id=97—

God Is Leading You Out of Here

1-2 Wake up, wake up! Pull on your boots, Zion!

Dress up in your Sunday best, Jerusalem, holy city!

Those who want no part of God have been culled out.

They won’t be coming along.

Brush off the dust and get to your feet, captive Jerusalem!

Throw off your chains, captive daughter of Zion!

3 Godsays, “You were sold for nothing. You’re being bought back for nothing.”

4-6 Again, the Master,God, says, “Early on, my people went to Egypt and lived, strangers in the land. At the other end, Assyria oppressed them. And now, what have I here?”God’s Decree. “My people are hauled off again for no reason at all. Tyrants on the warpath, whooping it up, and day after day, incessantly, my reputation blackened. Now it’s time that my people know who I am, what I’m made of—yes, that I have something to say. Here I am!”

7-10 How beautiful on the mountains

are the feet of the messenger bringing good news,

Breaking the news that all’s well,

proclaiming good times, announcing salvation,

telling Zion, “Your God reigns!”

Voices! Listen! Your scouts are shouting, thunderclap shouts,

shouting in joyful unison.

They see with their own eyes

Godcoming back to Zion.

Break into song! Boom it out, ruins of Jerusalem:

“Godhas comforted his people!

He’s redeemed Jerusalem!”

Godhas rolled up his sleeves.

All the nations can see his holy, muscled arm.

Everyone, from one end of the earth to the other,

sees him at work, doing his salvation work.

11-12 Out of here! Out of here! Leave this place!

Don’t look back. Don’t contaminate yourselves with plunder.

Just leave, but leave clean. Purify yourselves

in the process of worship, carrying the holy vessels ofGod.

But you don’t have to be in a hurry.

You’re not running from anybody!

Godis leading you out of here,

and the God of Israel is also your rear guard.

It Was Our Pains He Carried

13-15 “Just watch my servant blossom!

Exalted, tall, head and shoulders above the crowd!

But he didn’t begin that way.

At first everyone was appalled.

He didn’t even look human—

a ruined face, disfigured past recognition.

Nations all over the world will be in awe, taken aback,

kings shocked into silence when they see him.

For what was unheard of they’ll see with their own eyes,

what was unthinkable they’ll have right before them.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/85/32k/ISA/52-b0391984127f5d4423ad5900d54155d7.mp3?version_id=97—

1 Who believes what we’ve heard and seen?

Who would have thoughtGod’s saving power would look like this?

2-6 The servant grew up before God—a scrawny seedling,

a scrubby plant in a parched field.

There was nothing attractive about him,

nothing to cause us to take a second look.

He was looked down on and passed over,

a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand.

One look at him and people turned away.

We looked down on him, thought he was scum.

But the fact is, it wasourpains he carried—

ourdisfigurements, all the things wrong withus.

We thought he brought it on himself,

that God was punishing him for his own failures.

But it was our sins that did that to him,

that ripped and tore and crushed him—our sins!

He took the punishment, and that made us whole.

Through his bruises we get healed.

We’re all like sheep who’ve wandered off and gotten lost.

We’ve all done our own thing, gone our own way.

AndGodhas piled all our sins, everything we’ve done wrong,

on him, on him.

7-9 He was beaten, he was tortured,

but he didn’t say a word.

Like a lamb taken to be slaughtered

and like a sheep being sheared,

he took it all in silence.

Justice miscarried, and he was led off—

and did anyone really know what was happening?

He died without a thought for his own welfare,

beaten bloody for the sins of my people.

They buried him with the wicked,

threw him in a grave with a rich man,

Even though he’d never hurt a soul

or said one word that wasn’t true.

10 Still, it’s whatGodhad in mind all along,

to crush him with pain.

The plan was that he give himself as an offering for sin

so that he’d see life come from it—life, life, and more life.

AndGod’s plan will deeply prosper through him.

11-12 Out of that terrible travail of soul,

he’ll see that it’s worth it and be glad he did it.

Through what he experienced, my righteous one, my servant,

will make many “righteous ones,”

as he himself carries the burden of their sins.

Therefore I’ll reward him extravagantly—

the best of everything, the highest honors—

Because he looked death in the face and didn’t flinch,

because he embraced the company of the lowest.

He took on his own shoulders the sin of the many,

he took up the cause of all the black sheep.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/85/32k/ISA/53-d47d31635226c1ef8ba032dd12526156.mp3?version_id=97—

Spread Out! Think Big!

1-6 “Sing, barren woman, who has never had a baby.

Fill the air with song, you who’ve never experienced childbirth!

You’re ending up with far more children

than all those childbearing women.”Godsays so!

“Clear lots of ground for your tents!

Make your tents large. Spread out! Think big!

Use plenty of rope,

drive the tent pegs deep.

You’re going to need lots of elbow room

for your growing family.

You’re going to take over whole nations;

you’re going to resettle abandoned cities.

Don’t be afraid—you’re not going to be embarrassed.

Don’t hold back—you’re not going to come up short.

You’ll forget all about the humiliations of your youth,

and the indignities of being a widow will fade from memory.

For your Maker is your bridegroom,

his name,God-of-the-Angel-Armies!

Your Redeemer is The Holy of Israel,

known as God of the whole earth.

You were like an abandoned wife, devastated with grief,

andGodwelcomed you back,

Like a woman married young

and then left,” says your God.

7-8 Your RedeemerGodsays:

“I left you, but only for a moment.

Now, with enormous compassion, I’m bringing you back.

In an outburst of anger I turned my back on you—

but only for a moment.

It’s with lasting love

that I’m tenderly caring for you.

9-10 “This exile is just like the days of Noah for me:

I promised then that the waters of Noah

would never again flood the earth.

I’m promising now no more anger,

no more dressing you down.

For even if the mountains walk away

and the hills fall to pieces,

My love won’t walk away from you,

my covenant commitment of peace won’t fall apart.”

TheGodwho has compassion on you says so.

11-17 “Afflicted city, storm-battered, unpitied:

I’m about to rebuild you with stones of turquoise,

Lay your foundations with sapphires,

construct your towers with rubies,

Your gates with jewels,

and all your walls with precious stones.

All your children will haveGodfor their teacher—

what a mentor for your children!

You’ll be built solid, grounded in righteousness,

far from any trouble—nothing to fear!

far from terror—it won’t even come close!

If anyone attacks you,

don’t for a moment suppose that I sent them,

And if any should attack,

nothing will come of it.

I create the blacksmith

who fires up his forge

and makes a weapon designed to kill.

I also create the destroyer—

but no weapon that can hurt you has ever been forged.

Any accuser who takes you to court

will be dismissed as a liar.

This is whatGod’s servants can expect.

I’ll see to it that everything works out for the best.”

God’s Decree.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/85/32k/ISA/54-b5ce84ec4d6cac3c7f375c52f32b523e.mp3?version_id=97—

Buy Without Money

1-5 “Hey there! All who are thirsty,

come to the water!

Are you penniless?

Come anyway—buy and eat!

Come, buy your drinks, buy wine and milk.

Buy without money—everything’s free!

Why do you spend your money on junk food,

your hard-earned cash on cotton candy?

Listen to me, listen well: Eat only the best,

fill yourself with only the finest.

Pay attention, come close now,

listen carefully to my life-giving, life-nourishing words.

I’m making a lasting covenant commitment with you,

the same that I made with David: sure, solid, enduring love.

I set him up as a witness to the nations,

made him a prince and leader of the nations,

And now I’m doing it to you:

You’ll summon nations you’ve never heard of,

and nations who’ve never heard of you

will come running to you

Because of me, yourGod,

because The Holy of Israel has honored you.”

6-7 SeekGodwhile he’s here to be found,

pray to him while he’s close at hand.

Let the wicked abandon their way of life

and the evil their way of thinking.

Let them come back toGod, who is merciful,

come back to our God, who is lavish with forgiveness.

8-11 “I don’t think the way you think.

The way you work isn’t the way I work.”

God’s Decree.

“For as the sky soars high above earth,

so the way I work surpasses the way you work,

and the way I think is beyond the way you think.

Just as rain and snow descend from the skies

and don’t go back until they’ve watered the earth,

Doing their work of making things grow and blossom,

producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry,

So will the words that come out of my mouth

not come back empty-handed.

They’ll do the work I sent them to do,

they’ll complete the assignment I gave them.

12-13 “So you’ll go out in joy,

you’ll be led into a whole and complete life.

The mountains and hills will lead the parade,

bursting with song.

All the trees of the forest will join the procession,

exuberant with applause.

No more thistles, but giant sequoias,

no more thornbushes, but stately pines—

Monuments to me, toGod,

living and lasting evidence ofGod.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/85/32k/ISA/55-d1ebe0c7bfdae7513d2d87cc67009d75.mp3?version_id=97—

Salvation Is Just Around the Corner

1-3 God’s Message:

“Guard my common good:

Do what’s right and do it in the right way,

For salvation is just around the corner,

my setting-things-right is about to go into action.

How blessed are you who enter into these things,

you men and women who embrace them,

Who keep Sabbath and don’t defile it,

who watch your step and don’t do anything evil!

Make sure no outsider who now followsGod

ever has occasion to say, ‘Godput me in second-class.

I don’t really belong.’

And make sure no physically mutilated person

is ever made to think, ‘I’m damaged goods.

I don’t really belong.’”

4-5 ForGodsays:

“To the mutilated who keep my Sabbaths

and choose what delights me

and keep a firm grip on my covenant,

I’ll provide them an honored place

in my family and within my city,

even more honored than that of sons and daughters.

I’ll confer permanent honors on them

that will never be revoked.

6-8 “And as for the outsiders who now follow me,

working for me, loving my name,

and wanting to be my servants—

All who keep Sabbath and don’t defile it,

holding fast to my covenant—

I’ll bring them to my holy mountain

and give them joy in my house of prayer.

They’ll be welcome to worship the same as the ‘insiders,’

to bring burnt offerings and sacrifices to my altar.

Oh yes, my house of worship

will be known as a house of prayer for all people.”

The Decree of the Master,Godhimself,

who gathers in the exiles of Israel:

“I will gather others also,

gather them in with those already gathered.”

9-12 A call to the savage beasts: Come on the run.

Come, devour, beast barbarians!

For Israel’s watchmen are blind, the whole lot of them.

They have no idea what’s going on.

They’re dogs without sense enough to bark,

lazy dogs, dreaming in the sun—

But hungry dogs, they do know how to eat,

voracious dogs, with never enough.

And these are Israel’s shepherds!

They know nothing, understand nothing.

They all look after themselves,

grabbing whatever’s not nailed down.

“Come,” they say, “let’s have a party.

Let’s go out and get drunk!”

And tomorrow, more of the same:

“Let’s live it up!”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/85/32k/ISA/56-a8118e168a698d35b33d9a2581f4103d.mp3?version_id=97—