Isaiah 55

1. “All you who are thirsty, come to the water! 1 You without money, come, buy, and eat! 1 Yes, come! Buy wine and milk 1 without money — it’s free!

2. Why spend money for what isn’t food, 2 your wages for what doesn’t satisfy? 2 Listen carefully to me, and you will eat well, 2 you will enjoy the fat of the land.

3. Open your ears, and come to me; 3 listen well, and you will live — 3 I will make an everlasting covenant with you, 3 the grace I assured David.

4. I have given him as a witness to the peoples, 4 a leader and lawgiver for the peoples.

5. You will summon a nation you do not know, 5 and a nation that doesn’t know you will run to you, 5 for the sake of Adonai your God, 5 the Holy One of Isra’el, who will glorify you.”

6. Seek Adonai while he is available, 6 call on him while he is still nearby.

7. Let the wicked person abandon his way 7 and the evil person his thoughts; 7 let him return to Adonai, 7 and he will have mercy on him; 7 let him return to our God, 7 for he will freely forgive.

8. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, 8 and your ways are not my ways,” says Adonai.

9. “As high as the sky is above the earth 9 are my ways higher than your ways, 9 and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10. For just as rain and snow fall from the sky 10 and do not return there, but water the earth, 10 causing it to bud and produce, 10 giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater;

11. so is my word that goes out from my mouth — 11 it will not return to me unfulfilled; 11 but it will accomplish what I intend, 11 and cause to succeed what I sent it to do.”

12. Yes, you will go out with joy, 12 you will be led forth in peace. 12 As you come, the mountains and hills 12 will burst out into song, 12 and all the trees in the countryside 12 will clap their hands.

13. Cypresses will grow in place of thorns, 13 myrtles will grow instead of briars. 13 This will bring fame to Adonai 13 as an eternal, imperishable sign.