Isaiah 55

1 “Come, all you who are thirsty [in need, spiritually dry], come to the waters [source of spiritual refreshment]; and you without money [financial resources, silver], come, buy [acquire, trade], and eat [nourish, satisfy your soul]! Come, buy wine and milk [nourishment, abundance] without money [cost, payment] and without cost [price, expense]! word study 2 Why spend money [silver, wealth] on that which is not [lacking, without substance] bread [food, sustenance], and your labor [toil, hard work] on that which does not [fails to, is unable to] satisfy [bring satiety, fulfill]? Listen carefully [hearken diligently, pay attention] to Me, and eat [consume, devour] what is good [pleasant, beneficial], and your soul [living being, essence] will delight [be soft, take pleasure] in the richest [most abundant, fertile] of foods [nourishment, provision]. word study 3 Incline your ear [give heed, listen carefully] and come to Me [toward God, in obedience]; listen [hear and obey], so that your soul [the essence of a person, living being] may live [have life, be revived]. I will make with you an everlasting [forever, age-during] covenant [promise, agreement]— My loving devotion [kindness, mercy, faithful love] promised to David [the king of Israel]. word study 4 Behold [look, see], I have made him a witness [testifier, one who gives testimony] to the nations [people, communities], a leader [ruler, commander] and commander [one who gives orders, guide] of the peoples [nations, communities]. word study 5 Surely you will summon [call out to, invite] a nation [Gentile, non-Hebrew people] you do not know [are unaware of, have no knowledge of], and nations [Gentile nations, non-Hebrew peoples] who do not know [are unfamiliar with, have no understanding of] you will run [hasten, rush quickly] to you. For the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] your God [Elohim, the supreme Ruler], the Holy One [set apart, sacred] of Israel [the chosen people, descendants of Jacob], has bestowed [given, granted] glory [honor, splendor, beauty] on you [bestowed honor upon you, made you glorious].” word study 6 Seek [to inquire of, search for] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] while He may be found [discovered, attained]; call [cry out, invoke] on Him while He is near [close at hand, in intimate relationship]. word study 7 Let the wicked [morally wrong, guilty of sin] man forsake [loosen, relinquish] his own way [path, manner of life] and the unrighteous [evil, unjust] man his own thoughts [plans, intentions]; let him return [turn back, come back] to the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], that He may have compassion [show love, mercy], and to our God [Elohim, the supreme one], for He will freely pardon [abundantly forgive, show mercy]. word study 8 “For My thoughts [not your understanding, divine plans] are not your thoughts, neither are your ways [manner of life, path of action] My ways [God’s will, divine purpose],” declares the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God]. word study 9 “For as the heavens [the visible universe and the abode of God] are higher [exalted, lofty] than the earth [the land, the material world], so My ways [paths, manner of action] are higher [supreme, greater] than your ways [road, journey] and My thoughts [plans, devices] than your thoughts [intentions, inventions]. word study 10 For just as [the life-giving] rain and [gentle] snow fall from [the heavenly realm, the sky] heaven and do not return [to their source, empty] without watering [and nourishing] the earth, making it [bring forth new life, sprout] bud and sprout, and providing [the means for cultivation, the seed of life] seed to sow and [sustenance, spiritual nourishment] food to eat, word study 11 so My word [proceeding from My mouth, going forth] that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty [without purpose, unfulfilled], but it will accomplish [succeed in, bring to pass] what I please [delight in, desire], and it will prosper [rush, succeed] where I send [dispatch, commission] it. word study 12 You will indeed go out with [great] joy [and gladness, celebrating God’s goodness] and be led forth [guided and directed] in peace [completeness, wellness, and friendship with God]; the mountains [high places] and hills [small hills] will burst into song [break forth in joyful music, ringing cries] before you, and all [everything, the entirety] the trees of the field [the countryside, rural areas] will clap their hands [in triumphant praise, applauding God’s works]. word study 13 Instead of the thornbush, a cypress [evergreen tree] will grow, and instead of the brier [thorny plant, causing discomfort], a myrtle [fragrant tree] will spring up; they will make a name [reputation, memorial] for the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God], an everlasting [forever, age-during] sign [miraculous token, wonder], never [not at all] to be destroyed [cut off, eliminated].” word study