Isaiah 55:6-56:8

New International Version

⁶ Seek^(A) the Lord while he may be found;^(B)
    call^(C) on him while he is near.
⁷ Let the wicked forsake^(D) their ways
    and the unrighteous their thoughts.^(E)
Let them turn^(F) to the Lord, and he will have mercy^(G) on them,
    and to our God, for he will freely pardon.^(H)

⁸ “For my thoughts^(I) are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”^(J)
declares the Lord.
⁹ “As the heavens are higher than the earth,^(K)
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.^(L)
10 As the rain^(M) and the snow
    come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
    without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,^(N)
    so that it yields seed^(O) for the sower and bread for the eater,^(P)
11 so is my word^(Q) that goes out from my mouth:
    It will not return to me empty,^(R)
but will accomplish what I desire
    and achieve the purpose^(S) for which I sent it.
¹² You will go out in joy^(T)
    and be led forth in peace;^(U)
the mountains and hills
    will burst into song^(V) before you,
and all the trees^(W) of the field
    will clap their hands.^(X)
13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,
    and instead of briers^(Y) the myrtle^(Z) will grow.
This will be for the Lord’s renown,^(AA)
    for an everlasting sign,
    that will endure forever.”

“Maintain justice^(AB)
    and do what is right,^(AC)
for my salvation^(AD) is close at hand
    and my righteousness^(AE) will soon be revealed.
² Blessed^(AF) is the one who does this—
    the person who holds it fast,
who keeps the Sabbath^(AG) without desecrating it,
    and keeps their hands from doing any evil.”

³ Let no foreigner^(AH) who is bound to the Lord say,
    “The Lord will surely exclude me from his people.”^(AI)
And let no eunuch^(AJ) complain,
    “I am only a dry tree.”

“To the eunuchs^(AK) who keep my Sabbaths,
    who choose what pleases me
    and hold fast to my covenant^(AL)—
⁵ to them I will give within my temple and its walls^(AM)
    a memorial^(AN) and a name
    better than sons and daughters;
I will give them an everlasting name^(AO)
    that will endure forever.^(AP)
6 And foreigners^(AQ) who bind themselves to the Lord
    to minister^(AR) to him,
to love the name^(AS) of the Lord,
    and to be his servants,
all who keep the Sabbath^(AT) without desecrating it
    and who hold fast to my covenant—
⁷ these I will bring to my holy mountain^(AU)
    and give them joy in my house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and sacrifices^(AV)
    will be accepted on my altar;
for my house will be called
    a house of prayer for all nations.^(AW)”^(AX)
8 The Sovereign Lord declares—
    he who gathers the exiles of Israel:
“I will gather^(AY) still others to them
    besides those already gathered.”