Isaiah 55:6-9
New English Translation
6 Seek the Lord while he makes himself available;[a]
call to him while he is nearby!
7 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]
8 “Indeed,[g] my plans[h] are not like[i] your plans,
and my deeds[j] are not like[k] your deeds,” says the Lord,
9 “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.
Footnotes
- Isaiah 55:6 tn Heb “while he allows himself to be found.” The Niphal form has a tolerative force here.
- Isaiah 55:7 tn Heb “Let the wicked one abandon his way.” The singular is collective.
- Isaiah 55:7 tn Heb “and the man of evil his thoughts.” The singular is collective.
- Isaiah 55:7 tn Heb “let him return.” The singular is collective, meaning “let them.”
- Isaiah 55:7 tn The imperfect with vav (ו) conjunctive after the jussive indicates purpose/result.
- 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.
- Isaiah 55:8 tn Or “For” (KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV).
- Isaiah 55:8 tn Or “thoughts” (so many English versions).
- Isaiah 55:8 tn Heb “are not.” “Like” is interpretive, but v. 9 indicates that a comparison is in view.
- Isaiah 55:8 tn Heb “ways” (so many English versions).
- Isaiah 55:8 tn Heb “are not.” “Like” is interpretive, but v. 9 indicates that a comparison is in view.
- Isaiah 55:9 tn Or “the heavens.” The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heavens” or “sky” depending on the context.
- Isaiah 55:9 tn Heb “ways” (so many English versions).
- Isaiah 55:9 tn Heb “are higher than.”
- Isaiah 55:9 tn Or “thoughts” (so many English versions).
Isaiah 55:6-9
New American Standard Bible
6 (A)Seek the Lord while He may be found;
(B)Call upon Him while He is near.
7 (C)Let the wicked abandon his way,
And the unrighteous person his (D)thoughts;
And let him (E)return to the Lord,
And He will have (F)compassion on him,
And to our God,
For He will (G)abundantly pardon.
8 “For My thoughts are not (H)your thoughts,
Nor are (I)your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
9 “For (J)as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
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