Isaiah 55

 

Ho, everyone who thirsts come to the waters

            and he who has no money come, buy and eat

Come, buy wine and milk without money, without price

            Come to the waters come, buy and eat.

 

                        Why do you spend your money

                                    for that which is not bread?

                        Why do you give your labor

                                    for what doesn't satisfy?

                        Harken unto me and eat what is good

                        My feast brings you delight so, come unto me.

 

            Give to me your ear that your soul may live.

            Listen to me and you shall live

                        and I will make with you an everlasting covenant.

 

                                    Behold, like David you're my witness.

                                    Behold, you shall call the nations.

                                    Behold, they shall come to you

                                    Because of the Lord, your God,

                                    for He has glorified you.

 

(So) Seek the Lord while He may be found

Call upon Him while He is near.

The Lord in mercy waits
            for those with wicked thots' and ways

            to return unto him, Come, He will forgive.

 

My thoughts & ways are not yours, says the Lord.

They're higher than the heavens above you

                        but call, while I am near.

 

For as the rain and snow come down from heaven

                        and do not return, but water the earth

Making it bring forth & sprout where it lands

                        giving seed the sower and bread the hungry.

 

            So shall the word gone forth from my mouth

            it shall not return to me empty

            but everything that is within my will

            shall be accomplished in you.

 

                                    For you shall go out in joy

                                    and be led forth in peace

                                    the mountains and the hills

                                    before you shall break into singing

 

                        and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

                        Instead of the thorn in the wilderness

                                    there will be pine trees

                                                to give you shade.

                        Instead of the briars there shall be

                                    the sweet smell of the myrtle bush

                                                with its sweet fruit.

                        And all this shall be to the Lord a sign,

                        an everlasting sign which shall not be cut off;

                                    it shall not be cut off. . .

 

So, seek the Lord while He may be found

Call upon Him while He is near.

Ho, everyone who thirsts come to the waters

Come to the waters and go out with JOY.

©1982, Peter L Haynes

text adapted from Revised Standard Version of Isaiah 55
permission given for non-profit use
(I'd appreciate hearing about it)

            Written as I left the congregation which called me to ministry, headed to seminary. Then sung afterward during my ordination service, which took place amid those people in 1985.
Click here for a pdf file of the words with chords

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