A reading from
the Book of the Prophet Isaiah 55:1-11
Thus says the Lord:/ All you who are thirsty,/ come to the water!/ You who have no money,/ come, receive grain and eat;/ come, without paying and without cost,/ drink wine and milk!/ Why spend your money for what is not bread,/ your wages for what fails to satisfy?/ Heed me, and you shall eat well,/ you shall delight in rich fare./ Come to me heedfully,/ listen, that you may have life./ I will renew with you the everlasting covenant,/ the benefits assured to David./ As I made him a witness to the peoples,/ a leader and commander of nations,/ so shall you summon a nation you knew not,/ and nations that knew you not shall run to you,/ because of the Lord, your God,/ the Holy One of Israel, who has glorified you.
Seek the Lord while he may be found,/ call him while he is near./ Let the scoundrel forsake his way,/ and the wicked man his thoughts;/ let him turn to the Lord for mercy;/ to our God, who is generous in forgiving./ For my thoughts are not your thoughts,/ nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord./ As high as the heavens are above the earth,/ so high are my ways above your ways/ and my thoughts above your thoughts.
For just as from the heavens/ the rain and snow come down/ and do not return there/ till they have watered the earth,/ making it fertile and fruitful,/ giving seed to the one who sows/ and bread to the one who eats,/ so shall my word be/ that goes forth from my mouth;/ my word shall not return to me void,/ but shall do my will,/ achieving the end for which I sent it.
The word of the Lord.
