Isaiah 55

1Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

2Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.footnote a

3Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

4Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.

5Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.

6Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

7Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.footnote bfootnote c

8For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

9For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

11So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

12For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

13Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

Invitation to the Needy

1“Come, all you who are thirsty,come to the waters;and you without money,come, buy, and eat!Come, buy wine and milkwithout money and without cost! 2Why spend money on that which is not bread,and your labor on that which does not satisfy?Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,and your soul will delight in the richest of foods.

3Incline your ear and come to Me;listen, so that your soul may live.I will make with you an everlasting covenant—My loving devotion promised to David.footnote a 4Behold, I have made him a witness to the nations,a leader and commander of the peoples. 5Surely you will summon a nation you do not know,and nations who do not know you will run to you.For the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel,has bestowed glory on you.”

6Seek the LORD while He may be found;call on Him while He is near. 7Let the wicked man forsake his wayand the unrighteous man his thoughts;let him return to the LORD,that He may have compassion,and to our God,for He will freely pardon.

8“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,neither are your ways My ways,”declares the LORD. 9“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,so My ways are higher than your waysand My thoughts than your thoughts. 10For just as rain and snow fall from heavenand do not return without watering the earth,making it bud and sprout,and providing seed to sow and food to eat, 11so My word that proceeds from My mouthwill not return to Me empty,but it will accomplish what I please,and it will prosper where I send it.

12You will indeed go out with joyand be led forth in peace;the mountains and hills will burst into song before you,and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. 13Instead of the thornbush, the cypressfootnote bwill grow,and instead of the brier, the myrtle will spring up;this will make a name for the LORD,an everlasting sign, never to be destroyed.”