This is what the LORD says: “Maintain justice and do what is right, for My salvation is coming soon, and My righteousness will be revealed.
Parallel translations
- WEB Yahweh says, “Maintain justice, and do what is right; for my salvation is near, and my righteousness will soon be revealed.
- KJV Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.
- NKJV Thus says the Lord: “Keep justice, and do righteousness, For My salvation is about to come, And My righteousness to be revealed.
- NASB This is what the Lord says: “Guard justice and do righteousness, For My salvation is about to come And My righteousness to be revealed.
- NLT This is what the Lord says: “Be just and fair to all. Do what is right and good, for I am coming soon to rescue you and to display my righteousness among you.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God commands His people to keep justice and do righteousness because His salvation and righteousness are near. It matters because the nearness of God's salvation calls for righteous living now.
Overview
As Isaiah turns toward the conduct of God's people, He links the imminent coming of salvation with the call to just and righteous behavior. Grace received is to bear fruit in upright living. This pattern endures in the gospel, where those awaiting Christ's full salvation are called to lives marked by justice and holiness.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- Rom 13:11–14And do this, understanding the occasion. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
- Ps 85:9Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that His glory may dwell in our land.
- Matt 3:2and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
- Isa 1:16–19Wash and cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil!
- Rom 1:17For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
- Ps 24:4–6He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear deceitfully.
- Rom 10:6–10But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down)
- Isa 55:7Let the wicked man forsake his own way and the unrighteous man his own thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.
- Isa 51:5My righteousness draws near, My salvation is on the way, and My arms will bring justice to the nations. The islands will look for Me and wait in hope for My arm.
- Isa 46:13I am bringing My righteousness near; it is not far away, and My salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion and adorn Israel with My splendor.
- Matt 4:17From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
- Luke 3:3–9He went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,
- Isa 26:7–8The path of the righteous is level; You clear a straight path for the upright.
- John 7:17If anyone desires to do His will, he will know whether My teaching is from God or whether I speak on My own.
- Mark 1:15“The time is fulfilled,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!”
- Jer 7:3–11Thus says the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel: Correct your ways and deeds, and I will let you live in this place.
- Mal 4:4“Remember the law of My servant Moses, the statutes and ordinances I commanded him for all Israel at Horeb.
- Ps 50:23He who sacrifices a thank offering honors Me, and to him who rights his way, I will show the salvation of God.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Isaiah sees him most clearly: the virgin's son Immanuel, the child on David's throne, the shoot from Jesse, the light to the nations, and above all the Suffering Servant pierced for our transgressions (ch. 53).
How Isaiah 56:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.