Isaiah 55

                    Invitation to the Thirsty

 1 "Come, all you who are thirsty,  
       come to the waters;
       and you who have no money,
       come, buy and eat!
       Come, buy wine and milk
       without money and without cost.

2 Why spend money on what is not bread,
       and your labor on what does not satisfy?
       Listen, listen to me, and eat what is   
       good      
       and your soul will delight in the richest
       of fare.

3 Give ear and come to me;
       hear me, that your soul may live.
       I will make an everlasting covenant
       with you,
       my faithful love promised to David.

4 See, I have made him a witness to the
       peoples,
       a leader and commander of the peoples.

5 Surely you will summon nations you
       know not,
       and nations that do not know you will
       hasten to you,
       because of the LORD your God,
       the Holy One of Israel,
       for he has endowed you with splendor."

6 Seek the LORD while he may be found;
       call on him while he is near.

7 Let the wicked forsake his way
       and the evil man his thoughts.
       Let him turn to the LORD, and he will
       have mercy on him,
       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 "As the heavens are higher than the
       earth,
       so are my ways higher than your ways
       and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10 As the rain and the snow
       come down from heaven,
       and do not return to it
       without watering the earth
       and making it bud and flourish,
       so that it yields seed for the sower and
       bread for the eater,

 11 so is my word that goes out from my
       mouth:
       It will not return to me empty,
       but will accomplish what I desire
       and achieve the purpose for which I sent
       it.

12 You will go out in joy
       and 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.

13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the
       pine tree,
       and instead of briers the myrtle will 
       grow.
       This will be for the LORD's renown,
       for an everlasting sign,
       which will not be destroyed."