Isaiah 55

1Listen, all who thirst: come down to the water! You who have no silver, come, buy grain and eat. Come, buy grain, wine and milk, and pay nothing for them. 2Why pay out silver for what is not bread, and the fruit of your work for what never fills you? Pay close attention to me: eat what is good, and let your appetite delight in the finest food. 3Turn your ears this way and come to me; hear me, and you will truly live. I will grant you a covenant that stands forever: the loyal love I pledged to David, which does not fail. 4Look: I set him up as a witness to the peoples, a prince who gave orders to nations. 5You in turn will summon a nation you have never known, and a nation that never knew you will hurry to you, drawn by the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, who has made you shine with honor.

6Look for the LORD while he can still be found; call to him while he is close by. 7Let those who do wrong leave their path behind, and the evil their schemes. Let them come back to the LORD, and he will show them mercy; let them come back to our God, for he is generous to forgive. 8What I plan is not what you plan, and the paths you take are not my paths, declares the LORD. 9As far as the heavens tower over the earth, so far do my ways tower over yours, and my thoughts over yours. 10Just as rain and snow fall from the heavens and do not go back up until they have soaked the ground and made it bud and grow, giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats, 11so it is with the word that leaves my mouth: it will not come back to me with nothing done, but it will do what I want and succeed in the errand I sent it on. 12You will set out with gladness and be guided along in peace. Mountains and hills will ring with shouts of joy ahead of you, and every tree in the fields will clap its hands. 13Where thornbushes grew, cypress trees will rise; where nettles grew, myrtle will spring up. This will win the LORD a name, a sign that will last forever and never be cut down.