Isaiah 55

Chapter 55

Invitation to the LORD’s Salvation

1 “Is anyone thirsty?
Come and drink—
even if you have no money!
Come, take your choice of wine or milk—
it’s all free!2 Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength?
Why pay for food that does you no good?
Listen to me, and you will eat what is good.
You will enjoy the finest food.3 “Come to me with your ears wide open.
Listen, and you will find life.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you.
I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.4 See how I used him to display my power among the peoples.
I made him a leader among the nations.5 You also will command nations you do not know,
and peoples unknown to you will come running to obey,
because I, the LORD your God,
the Holy One of Israel, have made you glorious.”6 Seek the LORD while you can find him.
Call on him now while he is near.7 Let the wicked change their ways
and banish the very thought of doing wrong.
Let them turn to the LORD that he may have mercy on them.
Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD.
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways
and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.10 “The rain and snow come down from the heavens
and stay on the ground to water the earth.
They cause the grain to grow,
producing seed for the farmer
and bread for the hungry.11 It is the same with my word.
I send it out, and it always produces fruit.
It will accomplish all I want it to,
and it will prosper everywhere I send it.12 You will live in joy and peace.
The mountains and hills will burst into song,
and the trees of the field will clap their hands!13 Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow.
Where nettles grew, myrtles will sprout up.
These events will bring great honor to the LORD’s name;
they will be an everlasting sign of his power and love.”

ISAIAH 55

The [Lord]'s Invitation

1  t If you are thirsty,
come and drink water!
If you don't have any money,
come, eat what you want!
Drink wine and milk
without paying a cent.

2  t Why waste your money
on what really isn't food?
Why work hard for something
that doesn't satisfy?
Listen carefully to me,
and you will enjoy
the very best foods.

3  t Pay close attention!
Come to me and live.
I will promise you
the eternal love and loyalty
that I promised David.

4 I made him the leader and ruler
of the nations;
he was my witness to them.

5 You will call out to nations
you have never known.
And they have never known you,
but they will come running
because I am the [Lord],
the holy God of Israel,
and I have honored you.

God's Words //Are Powerful

6 Turn to the [Lord]!
He can still be found.
Call out to God! He is near.

7 Give up your evil ways
and your evil thoughts.
Return to the [Lord] our God.
He will be merciful
and forgive your sins.

8 The [Lord] says:
“My thoughts and my ways
are not like yours.

9 Just as the heavens
are higher than the earth,
my thoughts and my ways
are higher than yours.

10  t “Rain and snow fall from the sky.
But they don't return
without watering the earth
that produces seeds to plant
and grain to eat.

11 That's how it is with my words.
They don't return to me
without doing everything
I send them to do.”

God's People //Will Celebrate

12 When you are set free,
you will celebrate
and travel home in peace.
Mountains and hills will sing
as you pass by,
and trees will clap.

13 Cypress and myrtle trees
will grow in fields
once covered by thorns.
And then those trees will stand
as a lasting witness
to the glory of the [Lord].