The Lord Gives an Invitation
55:1 Hey,1
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!2
55:2 Why pay money for something that will not
nourish you?3
Why spend4
your hard earned money5
on something that will no satisfy?
Listen carefully6
to me and eat what is nourishing!7
Enjoy fine food!8
55:3 Pay attention and come to me!
Listen, so you can live!9
Then I will make an unconditional covenantal promise to10
you,
just like the reliable covenantal promises I made to David.11
55:4 Look, I made him a witness to nations,12
a ruler and commander of nations.”
55:5 Look, you will summon nations13
you did not previously know,
nations14
that did not previously know you will run to you,
because of the LORD your God,
the sovereign king15
of Israel,
for he bestows honor upon you.
55:6 Seek the LORD while he makes himself available,16
call to him while he is nearby!
55:7 The wicked need to abandon their life style,17
and sinful people their plans.18
They should return19
to the LORD, and he will show mercy to them,20
and to their God, for he will freely forgive them.21
55:8 “Indeed22
my plans23
are not like24
your plans,
and my deeds25
are not like26
your deeds,
55:9 for, just as the sky is higher than the earth,
so my deeds27
are superior to28
your deeds,
and my plans29
superior to your plans.
55:10 30The
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,
55:11 In the same way, the promise that I make
does not return to me, having accomplished nothing.31
No, it is realized as I desire,
and is fulfilled as I intend.”32
55:12 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.
55:13 Evergreens will grow in place of thorn bushes,
firs will grow in place of nettles;
they will be a monument to the LORD,33
a permanent reminder that will remain.34