Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say,“ The Lord will certainly separate me from His people.” Nor let the eunuch say,“ Behold, I am a dry tree.”

与耶和华联合的外邦人不要说：“耶和华必定将我从他民中分别出来。”太监也不要说：“我是枯树。”

与耶和华联合的外邦人不要说：“耶和华将我和他的子民分别出来。”太监也不要说：“看哪，我是枯树。”

与耶和华联合的外邦人不要说：“耶和华将我和他的子民分别出来。”太监也不要说：“看哪，我是枯树。”

皈依耶和华的外族人啊，不要以为耶和华会把你和祂的子民分开，太监也不要觉得自己只是一棵枯树。

与耶和华联合的外族人不要说：“耶和华必把我从他的子民中分别出来。”被阉割了的人也不要说：“看哪！我是一棵枯树。”

不要让归附于耶和华的外邦人说：“耶和华必定会把我从他的子民中分离出去。”也不要让被阉割的人说：“看哪，我是一棵枯树！”

與耶和華聯合的外邦人不要說：耶和華必定將我從他民中分別出來。太監也不要說：我是枯樹。

與耶和華聯合的外邦人不要說：「耶和華將我和他的子民分別出來。」太監也不要說：「看哪，我是枯樹。」

與耶和華聯合的外邦人不要說：「耶和華將我和他的子民分別出來。」太監也不要說：「看哪，我是枯樹。」

皈依耶和華的外族人啊，不要以為耶和華會把你和祂的子民分開，太監也不要覺得自己只是一棵枯樹。

與耶和華聯合的外族人不要說：“耶和華必把我從他的子民中分別出來。”被閹割了的人也不要說：“看哪！我是一棵枯樹。”

皈依永恆主的外族人不要說：『永恆主必定將我從他人民中分別出來』；被閹割的人也不要說：『唉，我是棵枯乾了的樹了。』

不要讓歸附於耶和華的外邦人說：「耶和華必定會把我從他的子民中分離出去。」也不要讓被閹割的人說：「看哪，我是一棵枯樹！」

附耶和華之異邦人、勿曰耶和華必別我於其民、閹者勿曰我乃枯木、

異邦之人歸誠於我者、勿曰、耶和華不以我為赤子、閹者亦勿曰、我若枯木、

異邦之人歸主者勿曰、主必別我於其民之中、閹者亦勿曰、我若枯木、

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.”

Suppose an outsider wants to follow the Lord. Then that person shouldn’t say,“ The Lord won’t accept me as one of his people.” And a eunuch shouldn’t say,“ I’m like a dry tree that doesn’t bear any fruit.”

Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say,“ The Lord will surely separate me from his people”; and let not the eunuch say,“ Behold, I am a dry tree.”

“ Don’t let foreigners who commit themselves to the Lord say,‘ The Lord will never let me be part of his people.’ And don’t let the eunuchs say,‘ I’m a dried up tree with no children and no future.’

No foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD should say,“ The LORD will exclude me from his people,” and the eunuch should not say,“ Look, I am a dried-up tree.”

Do not let the son of the foreigner Who has joined himself to the Lord Speak, saying,“ The Lord has utterly separated me from His people”; Nor let the eunuch say,“ Here I am, a dry tree.”

Neither let the foreigner, that hath joined himself to Jehovah, speak, saying, Jehovah will surely separate me from his people; neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.

No foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord should say,“ The Lord will exclude me from His people”; and the eunuch should not say,“ Look, I am a dried-up tree.”

Neither 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.

No foreigner who becomes a follower of the LORD should say,‘ The LORD will certainly exclude me from his people.’ The eunuch should not say,‘ Look, I am like a dried-up tree.’”

Let no foreigner who has joined himself to Yahweh speak, saying,“ Yahweh will surely separate me from his people.” Do not let the eunuch say,“ Behold, I am a dry tree.”

and for the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy; as it is written:“ Therefore I will give praise to You among the Gentiles, And I will sing praises to Your name.”Again he says,“ Rejoice, you Gentiles, with His people.”And again,“ Praise the Lord all you Gentiles, And let all the peoples praise Him.”Again Isaiah says,“ There shall come the root of Jesse, And He who arises to rule over the Gentiles, In Him will the Gentiles hope.”

“ The Lord of armies says this:‘ It will yet turn out that peoples will come, that is, the inhabitants of many cities.The inhabitants of one city will go to another, saying,“ Let’s go at once to plead for the favor of the Lord, and to seek the Lord of armies; I also will go.”So many peoples and mighty nations will come to seek the Lord of armies in Jerusalem, and to plead for the favor of the Lord.’The Lord of armies says this:‘ In those days ten people from all the nations will grasp the garment of a Jew, saying,“ Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.” ’ ”

Then the king told Ashpenaz, the chief of his officials, to bring in some of the sons of Israel, including some of the royal family and of the nobles,youths in whom there was no impairment, who were good looking, suitable for instruction in every kind of expertise, endowed with understanding and discerning knowledge, and who had ability to serve in the king’s court; and he ordered Ashpenaz to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.The king also allotted for them a daily ration from the king’s choice food and from the wine which he drank, and ordered that they be educated for three years, at the end of which they were to enter the king’s personal service.Now among them from the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.Then the commander of the officials assigned new names to them; and to Daniel he assigned the name Belteshazzar, to Hananiah Shadrach, to Mishael Meshach, and to Azariah Abed nego.But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself.Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials.The commander of the officials said to Daniel,“ I am afraid of my lord the king, who has allotted your food and your drink; for why should he see your faces looking gaunt in comparison to the youths who are your own age? Then you would make me forfeit my head to the king.”But Daniel said to the overseer whom the commander of the officials had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,“ Please put your servants to the test for ten days, and let us be given some vegetables to eat and water to drink.Then let our appearance be examined in your presence and the appearance of the youths who are eating the king’s choice food; and deal with your servants according to what you see.”So he listened to them in this matter, and put them to the test for ten days.And at the end of ten days their appearance seemed better, and they were fatter than all the youths who had been eating the king’s choice food.So the overseer continued to withhold their choice food and the wine they were to drink, and kept giving them vegetables.And as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and intelligence in every kind of literature and expertise; Daniel even understood all kinds of visions and dreams.Then at the end of the days which the king had specified for presenting them, the commander of the officials presented them before Nebuchadnezzar.And the king talked with them, and out of them all not one was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; so they entered the king’s personal service.As for every matter of expertise and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the soothsayer priests and conjurers who were in all his realm.And Daniel continued until the first year of Cyrus the king.

For so the Lord has commanded us,‘ I have appointed You as a light to the Gentiles, That You may bring salvation to the end of the earth.’ ”When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed.

To them I will give in My house and within My walls a memorial, And a name better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name which will not be eliminated.

“ Go and speak to Ebed melech the Ethiopian, saying,‘ This is what the Lord of armies, the God of Israel says:“ Behold, I am going to bring My words on this city for disaster and not for prosperity; and they will take place before you on that day.But I will save you on that day,” declares the Lord,“ and you will not be handed over to the men of whom you are afraid.

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as strangers, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen

to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

When the Lord has compassion on Jacob and again chooses Israel, and settles them on their own land, then strangers will join them and attach themselves to the house of Jacob.

But Ebed melech the Ethiopian, a eunuch, while he was in the king’s palace, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the cistern. Now the king was sitting at the Gate of Benjamin;and Ebed melech went out from the king’s palace and spoke to the king, saying,“ My lord the king, these men have acted wickedly in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet whom they have thrown into the cistern; and he will die right where he is because of the famine, for there is no more bread in the city.”Then the king commanded Ebed melech the Ethiopian, saying,“ Take thirty men from here under your authority and bring Jeremiah the prophet up from the cistern before he dies.”So Ebed melech took the men under his authority and went into the king’s palace to a place beneath the storeroom, and took from there worn out clothes and worn out rags, and let them down by ropes into the cistern to Jeremiah.Then Ebed melech the Ethiopian said to Jeremiah,“ Now put these worn out clothes and rags under your armpits under the ropes”; and Jeremiah did so.So they pulled Jeremiah out with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern, and Jeremiah stayed in the courtyard of the guardhouse.

Yet He answered and said,“ It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”And she said,“ Yes, Lord; but please help, for even the dogs feed on the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”

And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of the God fearing Greeks and a significant number of the leading women.

but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who does what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.For there is no partiality with God.

They will ask for the way to Zion, turning their faces in its direction; they will come so that they may join themselves to the Lord in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten.

Now there was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort,a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and made many charitable contributions to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually.

Now Jesus started on His way with them; but already, when He was not yet far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to Him,“ Lord, do not trouble Yourself further, for I am not worthy for You to enter under my roof;for that reason I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You; but just say the word, and my servant shall be healed.For I also am a man placed under authority, with soldiers under myself; and I say to this one,‘ Go!’ and he goes, and to another,‘ Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave,‘ Do this!’ and he does it.”

Then he left the synagogue and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God, whose house was next door to the synagogue.

For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb; and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by people; and there are also eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who is able to accept this, let him accept it.”Then some children were brought to Him so that He would lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them.But Jesus said,“ Leave the children alone, and do not forbid them to come to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”After laying His hands on them, He departed from there.And someone came to Him and said,“ Teacher, what good thing shall I do so that I may obtain eternal life?”And He said to him,“ Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”Then he* said to Him,“ Which ones?” And Jesus said,“ You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not give false testimony;Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”The young man* said to Him,“ All these I have kept; what am I still lacking?”Jesus said to him,“ If you want to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.And Jesus said to His disciples,“ Truly I say to you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven.And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said,“ Then who can be saved?”And looking at them, Jesus said to them,“ With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”Then Peter responded and said to Him,“ Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?”And Jesus said to them,“ Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms on account of My name, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.But many who are first will be last; and the last, first.

Opening his mouth, Peter said:“ I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality,

in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

‘ And some of your sons who will come from you, whom you will father, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’ ”

remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the people of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

But you and your sons with you shall attend to your priesthood for everything that concerns the altar and inside the veil, and you are to perform service. I am giving you the priesthood as a service that is a gift, and the unauthorized person who comes near shall be put to death.”

The Lord will be terrifying to them, for He will starve all the gods of the earth; and all the coastlands of the nations will bow down to Him, everyone from his own place.

“ No one who is emasculated or has his male organ cut off may enter the assembly of the Lord.No one of illegitimate birth may enter the assembly of the Lord; none of his descendants, even to the tenth generation, may enter the assembly of the Lord.No Ammonite or Moabite may enter the assembly of the Lord; none of their descendants, even to the tenth generation, may ever enter the assembly of the Lord,

Now when Jesus heard this, He was amazed and said to those who were following,“ Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel.And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven;

They shall join you and perform the duties of the tent of meeting, for all the service of the tent; but an unauthorized person shall not come near you.

But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying,“ Get ready and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza.”( This is a desert road.)So he got ready and went; and there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he had come to Jerusalem to worship,and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading Isaiah the prophet.Then the Spirit said to Philip,“ Go up and join this chariot.”Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said,“ Do you understand what you are reading?”And he said,“ Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this:“ He was led like a sheep to slaughter; And like a lamb that is silent before its shearer, So He does not open His mouth.In humiliation His justice was taken away; Who will describe His generation? For His life is taken away from the earth.”The eunuch answered Philip and said,“ Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself, or of someone else?”Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him.As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch* said,“ Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?”