The Free Offer of Mercy
1 “Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters;
And you who have no money come, buy grain and eat.
Come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without cost [simply accept it as a gift from God].
2 “Why do you spend money for that which is not bread,
And your earnings for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
And let your soul delight inabundance.
3 “Incline your ear [to listen] and come to Me;
Hear, so that your soul may live;
And I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
According tothe faithful mercies [promised and] shown to David.
4 “Listen carefully, I have appointedhim [David, representing the Messiah] to be a witness to the nations [regarding salvation],
A leader and commander to the peoples.
5 “In fact, you[Israel] will call a nation that you do not know,
And a nation that does not know you will run to you,
Because of the Lordyour God, even the Holy One of Israel;
For He has glorified you.”
6 Seek the Lordwhile He may be found;
Call on Him [for salvation] while He is near.
7 Let the wicked leave (behind) his way
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
And let him return to the Lord,
And He will have compassion (mercy) on him,
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.
8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughtshigherthan your thoughts.
10 “For as the rain and snow come down from heaven,
And do not return there without watering the earth,
Making it bear and sprout,
And providing seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
11 So will My word be which goes out of My mouth;
It will not return to Me void (useless, without result),
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeedingin the matterfor which I sent it.
12 “For you will go out [from exile] with joy
And be led forth [by the LordHimself] with peace;
The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you,
And all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
13 “Instead of the thorn bush the cypress tree will grow,
And instead of the nettle the myrtle tree will grow;
And it will be a memorial to the Lord,
For an everlasting sign [of His mercy] which will not be cut off.”