[1] Ho! everyone in need, come to the waters, and he who has no strength,
let him get food: come, get bread without money; wine and milk without
price. [2] Why do you give your money for what is not bread, and the fruit
of your work for what will not give you pleasure? Give ear to me, so that
your food may be good, and you may have the best in full measure. [3] Give
ear, and come to me, take note with care, so that your souls may have life:
and I will make an eternal agreement with you, even the certain mercies of
David. [4] See, I have given him as a witness to the peoples, a ruler and a
guide to the nations. [5] See, you will send for a nation of which you had
no knowledge, and those who had no knowledge of you will come running to
you, because of the Lord your God, and because of the Holy One of Israel,
for he has given you glory. [6] Make search for the Lord while he is there,
make prayer to him while he is near: [7] Let the sinner give up his way,
and the evil-doer his purpose: and let him come back to the Lord, and he
will have mercy on him; and to our God, for there is full forgiveness with
him. [8] For my thoughts are not your thoughts, or your ways my ways, says
the Lord. [9] For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways
higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. [10] For as the
rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and does not go back again, but
gives water to the earth, and makes it fertile, giving seed to the planter,
and bread for food; [11] So will my word be which goes out of my mouth: it
will not come back to me with nothing done, but it will give effect to my
purpose, and do that for which I have sent it. [12] For you will go out
with joy, and be guided in peace: the mountains and the hills will make
melody before you, and all the trees of the fields will make sounds of joy.
[13] In place of the thorn will come up the fir-tree, and in place of the
blackberry the myrtle: and it will be to the Lord for a name, for an
eternal sign which will not be cut off.
