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

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].