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Seek the Lord while he makes himself available;[a]
call to him while he is nearby!
The wicked need to abandon their lifestyle[b]
and sinful people their plans.[c]
They should return[d] to the Lord, and he will show mercy to them,[e]
and to their God, for he will freely forgive them.[f]
“Indeed,[g] my plans[h] are not like[i] your plans,
and my deeds[j] are not like[k] your deeds,” says the Lord,
“for just as the sky[l] is higher than the earth,
so my deeds[m] are superior to[n] your deeds
and my plans[o] superior to your plans.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 55:6 tn Heb “while he allows himself to be found.” The Niphal form has a tolerative force here.
  2. Isaiah 55:7 tn Heb “Let the wicked one abandon his way.” The singular is collective.
  3. Isaiah 55:7 tn Heb “and the man of evil his thoughts.” The singular is collective.
  4. Isaiah 55:7 tn Heb “let him return.” The singular is collective, meaning “let them.”
  5. Isaiah 55:7 tn The imperfect with vav (ו) conjunctive after the jussive indicates purpose/result.
  6. Isaiah 55:7 sn The appeal and promise of vv. 6-7 echoes the language of Deut 4:25-31; 30:1-10; and 1 Kgs 8:46-53, all of which anticipate the exile and speak of the prerequisites for restoration.
  7. Isaiah 55:8 tn Or “For” (KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV).
  8. Isaiah 55:8 tn Or “thoughts” (so many English versions).
  9. Isaiah 55:8 tn Heb “are not.” “Like” is interpretive, but v. 9 indicates that a comparison is in view.
  10. Isaiah 55:8 tn Heb “ways” (so many English versions).
  11. Isaiah 55:8 tn Heb “are not.” “Like” is interpretive, but v. 9 indicates that a comparison is in view.
  12. Isaiah 55:9 tn Or “the heavens.” The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heavens” or “sky” depending on the context.
  13. Isaiah 55:9 tn Heb “ways” (so many English versions).
  14. Isaiah 55:9 tn Heb “are higher than.”
  15. Isaiah 55:9 tn Or “thoughts” (so many English versions).