Isaiah 55

₁If you are thirsty,

come and drink water!

If you don't have any money,

come, eat what you want!

Drink wine and milk

without paying a penny.

₂Why waste your money

on what isn't really food?

Why work hard for something

that doesn't satisfy?

Listen carefully to me,

and you will enjoy

the very best foods.

₃Pay close attention!

Come to me and live.

I will promise you

the eternal love and loyalty

that I promised David.

₄I made him the leader and ruler

of the nations;

he was my witness to them.

₅You will call out to nations

you have never known.

And they have never known you,

but they will come running

because I am the LORD,

the holy God of Israel,

and I have honoured you.

₆Turn to the LORD!

He can still be found.

Call out to God! He is near.

₇Give up your crooked ways

and your evil thoughts.

Return to the LORD our God.

He will be merciful

and forgive your sins.

₈The LORD says:

“My thoughts and my ways

are not like yours.

₉Just as the heavens

are higher than the earth,

my thoughts and my ways

are higher than yours.

₁₀“Rain and snow fall from the sky.

But they don't return

without watering the earth

that produces seeds to plant

and grain to eat.

₁₁That's how it is with my words.

They don't return to me

without doing everything

I send them to do.”

₁₂When you are set free,

you will celebrate

and travel home in peace.

Mountains and hills will sing

as you pass by,

and trees will clap.

₁₃Cypress and myrtle trees

will grow in fields

once covered by thorns.

And then those trees will stand

as a lasting witness

to the glory of the LORD.