Isaiah 55

1 You who are thirsty, come to the water. All who have no money, go, buy, and drink wine and rich food without money or price.

2 Why spend money and labor for what will not satisfy? Listen to me, and you will eat what is good; your soul will feast on good things.

3 Pay attention and follow my ways. Listen to me, and your soul will live in prosperity. I will make an everlasting covenant with you—the sure holy things of David.

4 Look, I made him a witness among the nations, a ruler and commander for nations.

5 Nations that do not know you will call on you, and peoples unacquainted with you will run to you for refuge because of your God, the Holy One of Israel, since he has given you glory.

6 Seek God, and when you find him, call on him. When he comes near to you,

7 let the ungodly person abandon his ways and the lawless man his counsels. Let him return to the Lord and find mercy, because he will pardon your sins abundantly.

8 My counsels are not like your counsels, and my ways are not like your ways, says the Lord.

9 As heaven is far from earth, so my way is far from your ways and your thoughts from my mind.

10 Rain or snow comes down from heaven and does not return until it has saturated the earth, making it produce and bud and giving seed to the sower and bread for food.

11 My word will be the same: whatever leaves my mouth will never return until everything I intended is accomplished. I will make your ways prosper and carry out my commands.

12 You will go out with joy and be taught with gladness. Mountains and hills will celebrate your arrival with joy, and every tree in the field will applaud with its branches.

13 Cypress will grow instead of bramble, and myrtle instead of nettle. This will give the Lord a name and become an everlasting sign that will not fail.