Invitation to Life and the Power of God's Word
Isaiah 55:1-13
Isa.55.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- הוי: INTJ
- כל: DET
- צמא: ADJ,m,sg
- לכו: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,pl
- למים: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- ואשר: CONJ+PRON,rel
- אין: PART,neg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- כסף: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לכו: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,pl
- שברו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- ואכלו: VERB,qal,imp,2,mp
- ולכו: VERB,qal,imp,2,pl
- שברו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- בלוא: PREP+PART
- כסף: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ובלוא: CONJ+PREP+PART
- מחיר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יין: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וחלב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- John 7:37 (allusion): Jesus' invitation 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink' echoes Isaiah's call to the thirsty to come to the waters, reinterpreting the prophetic image in messianic terms.
- Revelation 21:6 (quotation): The promise 'To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment' closely parallels Isaiah's offer of water and provision 'without money and without price.'
- Revelation 22:17 (verbal): 'The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” Let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.' — mirrors Isaiah's repeated summons to come, drink, and receive without cost.
- Matthew 11:28 (thematic): 'Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest' shares the theme of an open, gracious invitation to receive life and relief from God offered freely.
- Psalm 34:8 (verbal): 'Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good' resonates with Isaiah's imagery 'come, buy and eat,' both employing the culinary motif of tasting/feeding to invite experiential trust in God's provision.
Alternative generated candidates
- O all who thirst, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come—buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money, without price.
- Come, all who thirst—come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Isa.55.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- למה: ADV
- תשקלו: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- כסף: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בלוא: PREP
- לחם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויגיעכם: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs+prs:2,m,pl
- בלוא: PREP
- לשבעה: PREP+NUM,m,sg
- שמעו: VERB,qal,impv,2,m,pl
- שמוע: VERB,qal,infc
- אלי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- ואכלו: VERB,qal,imp,2,mp
- טוב: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- ותתענג: CONJ+VERB,hitpael,impf,3,f,sg
- בדשן: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נפשכם: NOUN,f,sg,abs,poss:2,m,pl
Parallels
- Isaiah 1:19 (verbal): Uses very similar wording — “if you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land” — a close verbal/semantic parallel promising ‘eating the good’ as reward for heeding God.
- John 6:27 (thematic): Jesus warns against laboring for perishable food and urges work for the food that endures to eternal life, paralleling Isaiah’s critique of seeking what does not truly satisfy.
- John 6:35 (thematic): “I am the bread of life… you shall never hunger” echoes Isaiah’s summons to ‘eat the good’ and have one’s soul satisfied by divine provision.
- Psalm 34:8 (allusion): “O taste and see that the LORD is good” invites an experiential ‘eating’ of God’s goodness, resonating with Isaiah’s call to hear, eat, and delight in the abundance God offers.
- Deuteronomy 8:3 (thematic): God’s word and provision, not mere physical bread, sustain life — ‘man does not live by bread alone’ complements Isaiah’s contrast between empty expenditure and true nourishment from God.
Alternative generated candidates
- Why do you weigh out silver for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Hearken to me, and eat what is good; let your soul delight itself in rich fare.
- Why spend money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Hearken to me, and eat what is good; delight your soul in abundance.
Isa.55.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- הטו: VERB,qal,perf,3,pl
- אזנכם: NOUN,f,pl,suff
- ולכו: VERB,qal,imp,2,pl
- אלי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- שמעו: VERB,qal,impv,2,m,pl
- ותחי: VERB,qal,imprf,3,f,sg
- נפשכם: NOUN,f,sg,abs,poss:2,m,pl
- ואכרתה: VERB,qal,impf,1,sg
- לכם: PREP,2,m,pl
- ברית: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- עולם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- חסדי: NOUN,m,pl,cstr
- דוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הנאמנים: ADJ,m,pl,def
Parallels
- 2 Samuel 7:12-16 (verbal): God's promise to David of an enduring, everlasting dynasty—the Davidic covenant that Isaiah 55:3 calls the “sure mercies of David.”
- Psalm 89:3-4 (thematic): Speaks of God’s covenant with David and the establishment of his throne forever, echoing Isaiah’s appeal to the faithful mercies associated with David.
- Ezekiel 37:26 (verbal): God declares, “I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant,” closely echoing Isaiah’s language of an eternal covenant.
- Acts 13:34 (quotation): Paul explicitly cites the language of Isaiah (the ‘sure mercies of David’) in applying God’s promised covenant to the resurrection and messianic fulfillment in Jesus.
Alternative generated candidates
- Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, that your soul may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant—the faithful mercies of David.
- Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant—the faithful mercies of David.
Isa.55.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- הן: PART
- עד: PREP
- לאומים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- נתתיו: VERB,qal,perf,1,com,sg+3,m,sg(obj)
- נגיד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ומצוה: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לאמים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Isaiah 42:1 (allusion): Introduces the Servant whom God upholds and empowers to bring justice — foundational identity for one appointed by God over the nations.
- Isaiah 42:6 (verbal): God says He will give the servant as 'a covenant to the people, a light to the nations,' closely paralleling the idea of appointing a leader/witness to the nations.
- Isaiah 49:6 (thematic): Speaks of the servant being made a light to the Gentiles so that God's salvation reaches the ends of the earth, echoing the mission to the nations.
- Daniel 7:14 (thematic): Describes one given dominion and authority so that all peoples, nations, and languages serve him — parallels divine appointment over the nations.
- Psalm 72:11 (thematic): Envisions all kings and nations bowing and serving the ruler, resonating with the motif of a God‑appointed leader for the nations.
Alternative generated candidates
- Behold, I have made him a witness to the nations, a leader and commander to the peoples.
- Behold, I have set him as a witness to the peoples, as a leader and commander to the nations.
Isa.55.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- הן: PART
- גוי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- תדע: VERB,qal,impf,2,ms,sg
- תקרא: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- וגוי: CONJ
- לא: PART_NEG
- ידעוך: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg,suff:2,m,sg
- אליך: PREP+PRON,2,m,sg
- ירוצו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- למען: PREP
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלהיך: NOUN,m,sg,prsuf-2ms
- ולקדוש: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- פארך: NOUN,m,sg,abs,suff:2,m,sg
Parallels
- Isaiah 49:22-23 (verbal): Both promise that foreign nations (goyim) will come to/serve Zion and its servant; language of nations being drawn to Israel and paying homage echoes Isa. 55:5's nations running to you.
- Isaiah 60:4-5 (thematic): Describes nations and kings coming to Zion, bringing wealth and honoring the city because the LORD has glorified her—parallels the motif of nations running to Israel on account of the LORD’s glory.
- Isaiah 2:2-3 (thematic): Foretells many nations streaming to the mountain of the LORD to learn his ways and walk in his light, a common theme of Gentiles seeking God connected to Isa. 55:5.
- Zechariah 8:22-23 (thematic): Predicts that many peoples and strong nations will come to seek the LORD in Jerusalem and to entreat his favor—closely parallels the image of unknown nations running to Israel because of the LORD.
- Psalm 67:2-4 (thematic): Calls for God's way and saving power to be known among the nations so that all peoples may praise him, reflecting the goal behind nations coming to the LORD in Isa. 55:5.
Alternative generated candidates
- Behold, you shall call a nation you do not know, and nations that did not know you shall run to you, because of the LORD your God and for the Holy One of Israel; for he has glorified you.
- Behold, you shall call a nation you do not know, and nations that did not know you shall run to you; for the LORD your God, and the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you.
Isa.55.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- דרשו: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,pl
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- בהמצאו: PREP+VERB,nip,ptcp,3,m,sg
- קראהו: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,pl
- בהיותו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- קרוב: ADJ,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 4:29 (verbal): Promises that if Israel seeks the LORD they will find him; language and conditional seeking motif closely parallel Isaiah's summons to seek God while he may be found.
- 1 Chronicles 28:9 (verbal): Repeats the Deuteronomic formula ('you will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart'), echoing the same call to earnest seeking of God.
- Jeremiah 29:12-13 (verbal): Assures that calling on and seeking God will result in being answered/found when sought with wholeheartedness, mirroring Isaiah's exhortation to call while he is near.
- Amos 5:4 (thematic): A prophetic imperative ('Seek me and live') that shares Isaiah's urgent summons to seek the LORD, emphasizing immediate response to God's offer of life.
- Matthew 7:7 (allusion): Jesus' teaching 'seek and you will find' echoes the biblical theme in Isaiah 55:6 of active seeking resulting in finding God, extending the motif into the New Testament.
Alternative generated candidates
- Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near.
- Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near.
Isa.55.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- יעזב: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- רשע: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- דרכו: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- ואיש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- און: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מחשבתיו: NOUN,f,pl,suff
- וישב: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- וירחמהו: CONJ+VERB,piel,impf,3,m,sg
- ואל: CONJ+PREP
- אלהינו: NOUN,m,pl,abs,poss:1,pl
- כי: CONJ
- ירבה: VERB,qal,impf,3,ms
- לסלוח: PREP+VERB,qal,inf
Parallels
- Ezekiel 18:21-23 (verbal): Both passages state that if the wicked turn from their sin they will live; God does not desire the death of the wicked but accepts repentance and grants life/forgiveness—parallels Isaiah’s call to forsake ways and God’s mercy.
- Ezekiel 33:11 (thematic): God declares he takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked and urges them to turn and live—the same theological motive for calling sinners to return as in Isaiah 55:7.
- Joel 2:12-13 (verbal): A direct call to return to the LORD because he is gracious, merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love—language and promise of mercy closely echo Isaiah’s assurance of pardon.
- Proverbs 28:13 (verbal): ‘Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy’—parallels Isaiah’s linking of forsaking sin with receiving God’s mercy.
- Jonah 3:10 (structural): A narrative instance where the people’s repentance causes God to relent and withhold judgment—concrete fulfillment of Isaiah’s cause-and-effect claim that returning leads to God’s mercy.
Alternative generated candidates
- Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and he will have compassion on him—unto our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
- Let the wicked abandon his way, and the man of evil his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him—unto our God, for he abundantly pardons.
Isa.55.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כי: CONJ
- לא: PART_NEG
- מחשבותי: NOUN,f,pl,const,1cs
- מחשבותיכם: NOUN,f,pl,const,2mp
- ולא: CONJ
- דרכיכם: NOUN,f,pl,const,2mp
- דרכי: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,1,_,sg
- נאם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Isa.55.9 (structural): Immediate continuation: contrasts God's ways/thoughts with human ones by the image of the heavens being higher than the earth, developing the same theme.
- Isa.40.13 (thematic): Raises the related theme of human inability to instruct or comprehend God's counsel—underscoring the gap between divine and human thought.
- Rom.11.33-34 (allusion): Paul echoes the motif of God's inscrutable mind and judgments ('Who has known the mind of the Lord?'), applying the same contrast between divine wisdom and human understanding.
- Job 11.7-9 (thematic): Challenges human capacity to fathom God's workings and wisdom, using imagery of depth and incomprehensibility similar to Isaiah's contrast.
- Prov.3.5 (thematic): Urges trust in the LORD rather than reliance on human understanding—practical corollary to the claim that God's thoughts and ways exceed ours.
Alternative generated candidates
- For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.
- For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and my ways are not your ways, says the LORD.
Isa.55.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כי: CONJ
- גבהו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- שמים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- מארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- כן: ADV
- גבהו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- דרכי: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,1,_,sg
- מדרכיכם: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,poss,2mp
- ומחשבתי: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,poss,1s
- ממחשבתיכם: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,poss,2mp
Parallels
- Psalm 103:11 (verbal): Shares the same simile—'as the heavens are high above the earth'—and uses it to express the great distance between God's attitudes/ways and human ones.
- Romans 11:33 (thematic): Paul's doxology about the depth and inscrutability of God's wisdom and ways echoes Isaiah's assertion that God's ways and thoughts transcend human understanding.
- Job 11:7-8 (thematic): Rhetorical questions about searching out God's dimensions and knowledge underline the same theme of God's inscrutable, transcendent wisdom beyond human grasp.
- Isaiah 40:12-14 (thematic): Earlier Isaiah material asks who can measure or counsel God, similarly emphasizing God's incomparable stature and the gulf between divine and human wisdom/ways.
Alternative generated candidates
- For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
- For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isa.55.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כי: CONJ
- כאשר: CONJ
- ירד: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- הגשם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- והשלג: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,def
- מן: PREP
- השמים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- ושמה: CONJ+ADV,loc
- לא: PART_NEG
- ישוב: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- כי: CONJ
- אם: CONJ
- הרוה: VERB,hiph,impf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
- והולידה: CONJ+VERB,hif,perf,3,f,sg
- והצמיחה: CONJ+VERB,hif,perf,3,f,sg
- ונתן: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- זרע: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לזרע: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ולחם: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לאכל: INF,qal
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 32:2 (verbal): Uses rain/dew imagery for God's word or teaching—'let my teaching drop as the rain'—paralleling the motif of heavenly water bringing life and nourishment.
- Psalm 72:6 (thematic): Prayer for the king to be like rain/showers that water the earth—shared image of life-giving rain producing growth and provision.
- Hosea 6:3 (thematic): Speaks of the LORD coming 'as the dawn' and 'as the spring rains' that water the earth—similar promise of God-sent rains causing renewal and fruitfulness.
- Isaiah 44:3 (thematic): God promises to 'pour water on the thirsty land' and 'pour out my Spirit'—links physical watering with divine blessing and generative effect, echoing Isaiah 55:10's outcome of seed and bread.
- Job 36:27-28 (verbal): Describes the hydrological process—God draws up water, it distills as rain and falls—parallels Isaiah's observation that rain comes from heaven to water the earth and produce growth.
Alternative generated candidates
- For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
- For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there empty, but water the earth and make it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
Isa.55.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כן: ADV
- יהיה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- דברי: NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,1,c,sg
- אשר: PRON,rel
- יצא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- מפי: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- ישוב: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- אלי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- ריקם: ADV
- כי: CONJ
- אם: CONJ
- עשה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- אשר: PRON,rel
- חפצתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,-,sg
- והצליח: VERB,hiphil,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- אשר: PRON,rel
- שלחתיו: VERB,qal,perf,1,*,sg
Parallels
- Jeremiah 1:12 (verbal): God says he is ‘watching over’ his word to perform it—close verbal parallel to Isaiah’s claim that God’s word will not return empty but will accomplish his purpose.
- Jeremiah 23:29 (thematic): Describes God’s word as powerful (like fire or a hammer) that effects change—echoes Isaiah’s theme of the word’s efficacy in achieving God’s intent.
- Psalm 33:6,9 (thematic): Affirms that God’s spoken word brings creation and accomplishes his will, paralleling Isaiah’s emphasis on the producing, effective power of divine speech.
- Psalm 107:20 (thematic): ‘He sent his word and healed them’—an example of God’s word being sent forth and accomplishing a concrete effect, similar to Isaiah’s assertion of purposeful success.
- Matthew 24:35 (quotation): Jesus declares that his words will not pass away—a New Testament echo of the idea that divine words endure and accomplish their purpose.
Alternative generated candidates
- so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I desire and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
- so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth: it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish what I desire and prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
Isa.55.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כי: CONJ
- בשמחה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- תצאו: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- ובשלום: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- תובלון: VERB,niphal,impf,2,mp
- ההרים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- והגבעות: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,def
- יפצחו: VERB,qal,impf,3,mp
- לפניכם: PREP,2,m,pl
- רנה: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- וכל: CONJ+PRON,indef
- עצי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- השדה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ימחאו: VERB,qal,impf,3,mp
- כף: NOUN,f,sg,construct
Parallels
- Isaiah 44:23 (verbal): Very close wording and imagery within Isaiah: 'Break forth into singing, you mountains... let the trees of the field rejoice' — a near-verbal echo of Isa 55:12's mountains and trees rejoicing.
- Psalm 98:8-9 (verbal): Psalmic depiction of creation's response—'let the hills sing for joy... let the rivers clap their hands'—shares the same motif and similar language of cosmic rejoicing before the Lord.
- Psalm 96:11-12 (verbal): Calls heavens, earth, seas, fields and trees to rejoice ('let the fields be joyful... then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice'), paralleling Isaiah 55:12's vegetal and cosmic celebration.
- Revelation 5:13 (thematic): Apocalyptic vision in which 'every creature... in heaven and on earth' praises God — carries forward the theme of universal/cosmic praise triggered by God's redemptive rule, as in Isa 55:12.
- Luke 19:40 (allusion): Jesus' remark that 'if they keep silent, the stones will cry out' invokes the prophetic tradition of inanimate creation voicing praise in response to God's saving act, analogous to Isaiah's mountains and trees applauding.
Alternative generated candidates
- For you shall go out with joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
- For you shall go out with joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Isa.55.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- תחת: PREP
- הנעצוץ: NOUN,m,sg,def
- יעלה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ברוש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ותחת: CONJ+PREP
- הסרפד: NOUN,m,sg,def
- יעלה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- הדס: NOUN,m,sg,def
- והיה: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- ליהוה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
- לשם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לאות: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- עולם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- יכרת: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Isaiah 41:19 (verbal): God promises to plant cedar, acacia, myrtle (hêdâs) and olive in the wilderness—directly echoes the image of myrtle/cypress replacing thorns.
- Isaiah 35:1-2 (thematic): The wilderness and desert will blossom and rejoice, putting life and beauty where there was barrenness—parallel theme of transformation and restoration.
- Isaiah 61:3 (thematic): God gives ‘beauty for ashes’ and makes the people ‘trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD’—connects the motif of God’s planting and vindication as his everlasting name.
- Ezekiel 36:35 (thematic): Desolate land becomes like the garden of the LORD and delights; communal and land restoration language parallels the exchange of thorn for fruitful trees as a sign of God’s presence.
- Hosea 14:6-7 (thematic): Images of growth, dew, and flourishing roots/branches for Israel after repentance mirror the motif of vegetative renewal replacing shame and desolation.
Alternative generated candidates
- Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall be for the LORD as a name, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
- Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall be for the LORD for a name, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
Come, all 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 price.
Why spend silver for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Hear me, and listen: eat what is good, and let your soul delight in rich fare.
Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, that your soul may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant—the faithful mercies of David.
Behold, I have made him a witness to the nations, a ruler and commander for the peoples.
Behold, you will call a nation you do not know, and nations that do not know you will run to you—for the sake of the LORD your God and the Holy One of Israel; for he has glorified you.
Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, who will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth: it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish what I desire and succeed in the purpose for which I sent it.
For you shall go out with joy and be led in peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall be to the LORD for a name, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.