Dual PanelThe Lord's invitation
1If you are thirsty, come and drink water! If you don't have any money, come, eat what you want! Drink wine and milk without paying a penny.
2Why waste your money on what isn't really food? Why work hard for something that doesn't satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and you will enjoy the very best foods.
3Pay close attention! Come to me and live. I will promise you the eternal love and loyalty that I promised David.
4I made him the leader and ruler of the nations; he was my witness to them.
5You will call out to nations you have never known. And they have never known you, but they will come running because I am the Lord, the holy God of Israel, and I have honoured you.
God's words are powerful
6 Turn to the Lord! He can still be found. Call out to God! He is near.
7Give up your crooked ways and your evil thoughts. Return to the Lord our God. He will be merciful and forgive your sins.
8The Lord says: “My thoughts and my ways are not like yours.
9Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, my thoughts and my ways are higher than yours.
10“Rain and snow fall from the sky. But they don't return without watering the earth that produces seeds to plant and grain to eat.
11That's how it is with my words. They don't return to me without doing everything I send them to do.”
God's people will celebrate
12 When you are set free, you will celebrate and travel home in peace. Mountains and hills will sing as you pass by, and trees will clap.
13Cypress and myrtle trees will grow in fields once covered by thorns. And then those trees will stand as a lasting witness to the glory of the Lord.