Isaiah 55 YLT
Summary: The LORD issues a wide invitation to everyone thirsty to come to the waters, to buy wine and milk without money, urging people to stop spending on what does not satisfy and instead listen so their soul may live, through an everlasting covenant, the sure mercies of David. He calls the wicked to forsake their ways and thoughts and return, promising abundant pardon, for "my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways" (v. 8), His ways as high above human ways as the heavens are above the earth. Just as rain and snow water the earth and make it fruitful before returning, so God's word will not return void but accomplish what He pleases and prosper in its purpose. The chapter closes with a joyful image of the people going out with peace, mountains and hills breaking into singing and trees clapping their hands, thorn replaced by fir and briar by myrtle as an everlasting sign.
1Ho, every thirsty one, come ye to the waters, And he who hath no money, Come ye, buy and eat, yea, come, buy Without money and without price, wine and milk.
2Why do ye weigh money for that which is not bread? And your labour for that which is not for satiety? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat good, And your soul doth delight itself in fatness.
3Incline your ear, and come unto me, Hear, and your soul doth live, And I make for you a covenant age-during, The kind acts of David--that are stedfast.
4Lo, a witness to peoples I have given him, A leader and commander to peoples.
5Lo, a nation thou knowest not, thou callest, And a nation who know thee not unto thee do run, For the sake of Jehovah thy God, And for the Holy One of Israel, Because He hath beautified thee.
6Seek ye Jehovah, while He is found, Call ye Him, while He is near,
7Forsake doth the wicked his way, And the man of iniquity his thoughts, And he returneth to Jehovah, and He pitieth him, And unto our God for He multiplieth to pardon.
8For not My thoughts are your thoughts, Nor your ways My ways, --an affirmation of Jehovah,
9For high have the heavens been above the earth, So high have been My ways above your ways, And My thoughts above your thoughts.
10For, as come down doth the shower, And the snow from the heavens, And thither returneth not, But hath watered the earth, And hath caused it to yield, and to spring up, And hath given seed to the sower, and bread to the eater,
11So is My word that goeth out of My mouth, It turneth not back unto Me empty, But hath done that which I desired, And prosperously effected that for which I sent it.
12For with joy ye go forth, And with peace ye are brought in, The mountains and the hills Break forth before you with singing, And all trees of the field clap the hand.
13Instead of the thorn come up doth fir, Instead of the brier come up doth myrtle, And it hath been to Jehovah for a name, For a sign age-during--it is not cut off!
Also read this chapter in: KJV, WEB, ASV, WYC, GNV, WBT, DBY