Isa.55.1

"Hey there! All who are thirsty, come to the water! Are you penniless? Come anyway--buy and eat! Come, buy your drinks, buy wine and milk. Buy without money--everything's free!

Isa.55.1

"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.

Isa.55.1

"Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price.

Isa.55.1

"Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink--even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk--it's all free!

Isa.55.2

Why do you spend your money on junk food, your hard-earned cash on cotton candy? Listen to me, listen well: Eat only the best, fill yourself with only the finest.

Isa.55.2

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.

Isa.55.2

Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance.

Isa.55.2

Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen, and I will tell you where to get food that is good for the soul!

Isa.55.3

Pay attention, come close now, listen carefully to my life-giving, life-nourishing words. I'm making a lasting covenant commitment with you, the same that I made with David: sure, solid, enduring love.

Isa.55.3

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.

Isa.55.3

Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you-- The sure mercies of David.

Isa.55.3

"Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, for the life of your soul is at stake. I am ready to make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the mercies and unfailing love that I promised to David.

Isa.55.4

I set him up as a witness to the nations, made him a prince and leader of the nations,

Isa.55.4

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

Isa.55.4

Indeed I have given him as a witness to the people, A leader and commander for the people.

Isa.55.4

He displayed my power by being my witness and a leader among the nations.

Isa.55.5

And now I'm doing it to you: You'll summon nations you've never heard of, and nations who've never heard of you will come running to you Because of me, your GOD, because The Holy of Israel has honored you."

Isa.55.5

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."

Isa.55.5

Surely you shall call a nation you do not know, And nations who do not know you shall run to you, Because of the LORD your God, And the Holy One of Israel; For He has glorified you."

Isa.55.5

You also will command the nations, and they will come running to obey, because I, the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, have made you glorious."

Isa.55.6

Seek GOD while he's here to be found, pray to him while he's close at hand.

Isa.55.6

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

Isa.55.6

Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.

Isa.55.6

Seek the LORD while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.

Isa.55.7

Let the wicked abandon their way of life and the evil their way of thinking. Let them come back to GOD, who is merciful, come back to our God, who is lavish with forgiveness.

Isa.55.7

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.

Isa.55.7

Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.

Isa.55.7

Let the people turn from their wicked deeds. Let them banish from their minds the very thought of doing wrong! Let them turn to the LORD that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Isa.55.8

"I don't think the way you think. The way you work isn't the way I work." GOD's Decree.

Isa.55.8

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.

Isa.55.8

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD.

Isa.55.8

"My thoughts are completely different from yours," says the LORD. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.

Isa.55.9

"For as the sky soars high above earth, so the way I work surpasses the way you work, and the way I think is beyond the way you think.

Isa.55.9

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isa.55.9

"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

Isa.55.9

For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

Isa.55.10

Just as rain and snow descend from the skies and don't go back until they've watered the earth, Doing their work of making things grow and blossom, producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry,

Isa.55.10

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,

Isa.55.10

"For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater,

Isa.55.10

"The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry.

Isa.55.11

So will the words that come out of my mouth not come back empty--handed. They'll do the work I sent them to do, they'll complete the assignment I gave them.

Isa.55.11

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.

Isa.55.11

So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Isa.55.11

It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.

Isa.55.12

"So you'll go out in joy, you'll be led into a whole and complete life. The mountains and hills will lead the parade, bursting with song. All the trees of the forest will join the procession, exuberant with applause.

Isa.55.12

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.

Isa.55.12

"For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills Shall break forth into singing before you, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Isa.55.12

You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands!

Isa.55.13

No more thistles, but giant sequoias, no more thornbushes, but stately pines--Monuments to me, to GOD, living and lasting evidence of GOD."

Isa.55.13

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."

Isa.55.13

Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; And it shall be to the LORD for a name, For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off."

Isa.55.13

Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow. Where briers grew, myrtles will sprout up. This miracle will bring great honor to the LORD's name; it will be an everlasting sign of his power and love.

Isa.56.1

GOD's Message: "Guard my common good: Do what's right and do it in the right way, For salvation is just around the corner, my setting-things-right is about to go into action.

Isa.56.1

This is what the LORD says: "Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed.

Isa.56.1

Thus says the LORD: "Keep justice, and do righteousness, For My salvation is about to come, And My righteousness to be revealed.

Isa.56.1

"Be just and fair to all," says the LORD. "Do what is right and good, for I am coming soon to rescue you.

Isa.56.2

How blessed are you who enter into these things, you men and women who embrace them, Who keep Sabbath and don't defile it, who watch your step and don't do anything evil!

Isa.56.2

Blessed is the man who does this, the man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil."

Isa.56.2

Blessed is the man who does this, And the son of man who lays hold on it; Who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, And keeps his hand from doing any evil."

Isa.56.2

Blessed are those who are careful to do this. Blessed are those who honor my Sabbath days of rest by refusing to work. And blessed are those who keep themselves from doing wrong.

Isa.56.3

Make sure no outsider who now follows GOD ever has occasion to say, "GOD put me in second-class. I don't really belong.' And make sure no physically mutilated person is ever made to think, "I'm damaged goods. I don't really belong.'"

Isa.56.3

Let no foreigner who has bound himself to the LORD say, "The LORD will surely exclude me from his people." And let not any eunuch complain, "I am only a dry tree."

Isa.56.3

Do not let the son of the foreigner Who has joined himself to the LORD Speak, saying, "The LORD has utterly separated me from His people"; Nor let the eunuch say, "Here I am, a dry tree."

Isa.56.3

"And my blessings are for Gentiles, too, when they commit themselves to the LORD. Do not let them think that I consider them second-class citizens. And my blessings are also for the eunuchs. They are as much mine as anyone else.

Isa.56.4

For GOD says: "To the mutilated who keep my Sabbaths and choose what delights me and keep a firm grip on my covenant,

Isa.56.4

For this is what the LORD says: "To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant-

Isa.56.4

For thus says the LORD: "To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, And choose what pleases Me, And hold fast My covenant,

Isa.56.4

For I say this to the eunuchs who keep my Sabbath days holy, who choose to do what pleases me and commit their lives to me:

Isa.56.5

I'll provide them an honored place in my family and within my city, even more honored than that of sons and daughters. I'll confer permanent honors on them that will never be revoked.

Isa.56.5

to them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off.

Isa.56.5

Even to them I will give in My house And within My walls a place and a name Better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name That shall not be cut off.

Isa.56.5

I will give them--in my house, within my walls--a memorial and a name far greater than the honor they would have received by having sons and daughters. For the name I give them is an everlasting one. It will never disappear!

Isa.56.6

"And as for the outsiders who now follow me, working for me, loving my name, and wanting to be my servants--All who keep Sabbath and don't defile it, holding fast to my covenant--

Isa.56.6

And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD to serve him, to love the name of the LORD, and to worship him, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant-

Isa.56.6

"Also the sons of the foreigner Who join themselves to the LORD, to serve Him, And to love the name of the LORD, to be His servants-- Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, And holds fast My covenant--

Isa.56.6

"I will also bless the Gentiles who commit themselves to the LORD and serve him and love his name, who worship him and do not desecrate the Sabbath day of rest, and who have accepted his covenant.

Isa.56.7

I'll bring them to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. They'll be welcome to worship the same as the "insiders,' to bring burnt offerings and sacrifices to my altar. Oh yes, my house of worship will be known as a house of prayer for all people."

Isa.56.7

these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations."

Isa.56.7

Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices Will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations."

Isa.56.7

I will bring them also to my holy mountain of Jerusalem and will fill them with joy in my house of prayer. I will accept their burnt offerings and sacrifices, because my Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations.

Isa.56.8

The Decree of the Master, GOD himself, who gathers in the exiles of Israel: "I will gather others also, gather them in with those already gathered." [JC]

Isa.56.8

The Sovereign LORD declares- he who gathers the exiles of Israel: "I will gather still others to them besides those already gathered."

Isa.56.8

The Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says, "Yet I will gather to him Others besides those who are gathered to him."

Isa.56.8

For the Sovereign LORD, who brings back the outcasts of Israel, says: I will bring others, too, besides my people Israel."

Isa.56.9

A call to the savage beasts: Come on the run. Come, devour, beast barbarians!

Isa.56.9

Come, all you beasts of the field, come and devour, all you beasts of the forest!

Isa.56.9

All you beasts of the field, come to devour, All you beasts in the forest.

Isa.56.9

Come, wild animals of the field! Come, wild animals of the forest! Come and devour my people!

Isa.56.10

For Israel's watchmen are blind, the whole lot of them. They have no idea what's going on. They're dogs without sense enough to bark, lazy dogs, dreaming in the sun--

Isa.56.10

Israel's watchmen are blind, they all lack knowledge; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they lie around and dream, they love to sleep.

Isa.56.10

His watchmen are blind, They are all ignorant; They are all dumb dogs, They cannot bark; Sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.

Isa.56.10

For the leaders of my people--the LORD's watchmen, his shepherds--are blind to every danger. They are like silent watchdogs that give no warning when danger comes. They love to lie around, sleeping and dreaming.

Isa.56.11

But hungry dogs, they do know how to eat, voracious dogs, with never enough. And these are Israel's shepherds! They know nothing, understand nothing. They all look after themselves, grabbing whatever's not nailed down.

Isa.56.11

They are dogs with mighty appetites; they never have enough. They are shepherds who lack understanding; they all turn to their own way, each seeks his own gain.

Isa.56.11

Yes, they are greedy dogs Which never have enough. And they are shepherds Who cannot understand; They all look to their own way, Every one for his own gain, From his own territory.

Isa.56.11

And they are as greedy as dogs, never satisfied. They are stupid shepherds, all following their own path, all of them intent on personal gain.

Isa.56.12

"Come," they say, "let's have a party. Let's go out and get drunk!" And tomorrow, more of the same: "Let's live it up!"

Isa.56.12

"Come," each one cries, "let me get wine! Let us drink our fill of beer! And tomorrow will be like today, or even far better."

Isa.56.12

"Come," one says, "I will bring wine, And we will fill ourselves with intoxicating drink; Tomorrow will be as today, And much more abundant."

Isa.56.12

"Come," they say. "We will get some wine and have a party. Let's all get drunk. Let this go on and on, and tomorrow will be even better."

Isa.57.1

Meanwhile, right-living people die and no one gives them a thought. God-fearing people are carted off and no one even notices. The right-living people are out of their misery, they're finally at rest.

Isa.57.1

The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil.

Isa.57.1

The righteous perishes, And no man takes it to heart; Merciful men are taken away, While no one considers That the righteous is taken away from evil.

Isa.57.1

The righteous pass away; the godly often die before their time. And no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to understand that God is protecting them from the evil to come.

Isa.57.2

They lived well and with dignity and now they're finally at peace. [JC]

Isa.57.2

Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death.

Isa.57.2

He shall enter into peace; They shall rest in their beds, Each one walking in his uprightness.

Isa.57.2

For the godly who die will rest in peace.

Isa.57.3

"But you, children of a witch, come here! Sons of a slut, daughters of a whore.

Isa.57.3

"But you-come here, you sons of a sorceress, you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes!

Isa.57.3

"But come here, You sons of the sorceress, You offspring of the adulterer and the harlot!

Isa.57.3

"But you--come here, you witches' children, you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes!

Isa.57.4

What business do you have taunting, sneering, and sticking out your tongue? Do you have any idea what wretches you've turned out to be? A race of rebels, a generation of liars.

Isa.57.4

Whom are you mocking? At whom do you sneer and stick out your tongue? Are you not a brood of rebels, the offspring of liars?

Isa.57.4

Whom do you ridicule? Against whom do you make a wide mouth And stick out the tongue? Are you not children of transgression, Offspring of falsehood,

Isa.57.4

Whom do you mock, making faces and sticking out your tongues? You children of sinners and liars!

Isa.57.5

You satisfy your lust any place you find some shade and fornicate at whim. You kill your children at any convenient spot--any cave or crevasse will do.

Isa.57.5

You burn with lust among the oaks and under every spreading tree; you sacrifice your children in the ravines and under the overhanging crags.

Isa.57.5

Inflaming yourselves with gods under every green tree, Slaying the children in the valleys, Under the clefts of the rocks?

Isa.57.5

You worship your idols with great passion beneath every green tree. You slaughter your children as human sacrifices down in the valleys, under overhanging rocks.

Isa.57.6

You take stones from the creek and set up your sex-and-religion shrines. You've chosen your fate. Your worship will be your doom.

Isa.57.6

The idols among the smooth stones of the ravines are your portion; they, they are your lot. Yes, to them you have poured out drink offerings and offered grain offerings. In the light of these things, should I relent?

Isa.57.6

Among the smooth stones of the stream Is your portion; They, they, are your lot! Even to them you have poured a drink offering, You have offered a grain offering. Should I receive comfort in these?

Isa.57.6

Your gods are the smooth stones in the valleys. You worship them with drink offerings and grain offerings. They, not I, are your inheritance. Does all this make me happy?

Isa.57.7

You've climbed a high mountain to practice your foul sex-and-death religion.

Isa.57.7

You have made your bed on a high and lofty hill; there you went up to offer your sacrifices.

Isa.57.7

"On a lofty and high mountain You have set your bed; Even there you went up To offer sacrifice.

Isa.57.7

You have committed adultery on the mountaintops by worshiping idols there, and so you have been unfaithful to me.

Isa.57.8

Behind closed doors you assemble your precious gods and goddesses. Deserting me, you've gone all out, stripped down and made your bed your place of worship. You've climbed into bed with the "sacred' whores and loved every minute of it, adoring every curve of their naked bodies.

Isa.57.8

Behind your doors and your doorposts you have put your pagan symbols. Forsaking me, you uncovered your bed, you climbed into it and opened it wide; you made a pact with those whose beds you love, and you looked on their nakedness.

Isa.57.8

Also behind the doors and their posts You have set up your remembrance; For you have uncovered yourself to those other than Me, And have gone up to them; You have enlarged your bed And made a covenant with them; You have loved their bed, Where you saw their nudity.

Isa.57.8

Behind closed doors, you have set up your idols and worship them instead of me. This is adultery, for you are loving these idols instead of loving me. You have climbed right into bed with these detestable gods.

Isa.57.9

You anoint your king-god with ointments and lavish perfumes on yourselves. You send scouts to search out the latest in religion, send them all the way to hell and back.

Isa.57.9

You went to Molech with olive oil and increased your perfumes. You sent your ambassadors far away; you descended to the grave itself!

Isa.57.9

You went to the king with ointment, And increased your perfumes; You sent your messengers far off, And even descended to Sheol.

Isa.57.9

You have given olive oil and perfume to Molech as your gift. You have traveled far, even into the world of the dead, to find new gods to love.

Isa.57.10

You wear yourselves out trying the new and the different, and never see what a waste it all is. You've always found strength for the latest fad, never got tired of trying new religions.

Isa.57.10

You were wearied by all your ways, but you would not say, 'It is hopeless.' You found renewal of your strength, and so you did not faint.

Isa.57.10

You are wearied in the length of your way; Yet you did not say, "There is no hope.' You have found the life of your hand; Therefore you were not grieved.

Isa.57.10

You grew weary in your search, but you never gave up. You strengthened yourself and went on.

Isa.57.11

"Who talked you into the pursuit of this nonsense, leaving me high and dry, forgetting you ever knew me? Because I don't yell and make a scene do you think I don't exist?

Isa.57.11

"Whom have you so dreaded and feared that you have been false to me, and have neither remembered me nor pondered this in your hearts? Is it not because I have long been silent that you do not fear me?

Isa.57.11

"And of whom have you been afraid, or feared, That you have lied And not remembered Me, Nor taken it to your heart? Is it not because I have held My peace from of old That you do not fear Me?

Isa.57.11

Why were you more afraid of them than of me? How is it that you don't even remember me or think about me? Is it because I have not corrected you that you have no fear of me?

Isa.57.12

I'll go over, detail by detail, all your "righteous' attempts at religion, and expose the absurdity of it all.

Isa.57.12

I will expose your righteousness and your works, and they will not benefit you.

Isa.57.12

I will declare your righteousness And your works, For they will not profit you.

Isa.57.12

"Now I will expose your so-called good deeds that you consider so righteous. None of them will benefit or save you.

Isa.57.13

Go ahead, cry for help to your collection of no-gods: A good wind will blow them away. They're smoke, nothing but smoke. "But anyone who runs to me for help will inherit the land, will end up owning my holy mountain!" [JC]

Isa.57.13

When you cry out for help, let your collection of idols save you! The wind will carry all of them off, a mere breath will blow them away. But the man who makes me his refuge will inherit the land and possess my holy mountain."

Isa.57.13

When you cry out, Let your collection of idols deliver you. But the wind will carry them all away, A breath will take them. But he who puts his trust in Me shall possess the land, And shall inherit My holy mountain."

Isa.57.13

Let's see if your idols can do anything for you when you cry to them for help. They are so helpless that a breath of wind can knock them down! But whoever trusts in me will possess the land and inherit my holy mountain.