Isaiah 55

1 All you who thirst, come to the waters. And you who have no money: hurry, buy and eat. Approach, buy wine and milk, without money and without barter.2 Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and expend your labor for what does not satisfy? Listen very closely to me, and eat what is good, and then your soul will be delighted by a full measure.3 Incline your ear and draw near to me. Listen, and your soul will live. And I will make an everlasting covenant with you, by the faithful mercies of David.4 Behold, I have presented him as a witness to the people, as a commander and instructor to the nations.5 Behold, you will call to a nation that you did not know. And nations that did not know you will rush to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel. For he has glorified you.6 Seek the Lord, while he is able to be found. Call upon him, while he is near.7 Let the impious one abandon his way, and the iniquitous man his thoughts, and let him return to the Lord, and he will take pity on him, and to our God, for he is great in forgiveness.8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways, says the Lord.9 For just as the heavens are exalted above the earth, so also are my ways exalted above your ways, and my thoughts above your thoughts.10 And in the same manner as rain and snow descend from heaven, and no longer return there, but soak the earth, and water it, and cause it to bloom and to provide seed to the sower and bread to the hungry,11 so also will my word be, which will go forth from my mouth. It will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish whatever I will, and it will prosper in the tasks for which I sent it.12 For you will go forth rejoicing, and you will be led forward in peace. The mountains and the hills will sing praise before you, and all the trees of the countryside will clap their hands.13 In place of the shrub, the pine tree will arise, and in place of the nettle, the myrtle tree will grow. And the Lord will be named with an eternal sign, which will not be taken away.

Isaiah 55

The Lord Gives an Invitation

1 “Hey,t all who are thirsty, come to the water!
You who have no money, come!
Buy and eat!
Come! Buy wine and milk
without money and without cost!s

2 Why pay money for something that will not nourish you?t
Why spendt your hard-earned moneyt on something that will not satisfy?
Listen carefullyt to me and eat what is nourishing!t
Enjoy fine food!ts

3 Pay attention and come to me!
Listen, so you can live!ts
Then I will make an unconditional covenantal promise tot you,
just like the reliable covenantal promises I made to David.t

4 Look, I made him a witness to nations,s
a ruler and commander of nations.”

5 Look, you will summon nationst you did not previously know;
nationst that did not previously know you will run to you,
because of the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel,s
for he bestows honor on you.

6 Seek the Lord while he makes himself available;t
call to him while he is nearby!

7 The wicked need to abandon their lifestylet
and sinful people their plans.t
They should returnt to the Lord, and he will show mercy to them,t
and to their God, for he will freely forgive them.s

8 “Indeed,t my planst are not liket your plans,
and my deedst are not liket your deeds,

9 for just as the skyt is higher than the earth,
so my deedst are superior tot your deeds
and my planst superior to your plans.

10 t The rain and snow fall from the sky
and do not return,
but instead water the earth
and make it produce and yield crops,
and provide seed for the planter and food for those who must eat.

11 In the same way, the promise that I make
does not return to me, having accomplished nothing.t
No, it is realized as I desire
and is fulfilled as I intend.”ts

12 Indeed you will go out with joy;
you will be led along in peace;
the mountains and hills will give a joyful shout before you,
and all the trees in the field will clap their hands.

13 Evergreens will grow in place of thorn bushes,
firs will grow in place of nettles;
they will be a monument to the Lord,t
a permanent reminder that will remain.t