1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
4 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.
5 Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the Lord thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.
6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
<html><b>Ho! All who thirst</b> Heb. הוֹי. This word הוֹי is an expression of calling, inviting, and gathering, and there are many in Scripture, [e.g.,] (Zech. 2:10) “Ho! Ho! and flee from the north land.” <b>go to water</b> to Torah. <b>buy</b> Heb. שִׁבְרוּ. Comp. (Gen. 42:3) “To buy (לִשְׁבֹּר) corn,” buy. <b>wine and milk</b> Teaching better than wine and milk.</html>
<html><b>Why should you weigh out money</b> Why should you cause yourselves to weigh out money to your enemies without bread?</html>
<html><b>the dependable mercies of David</b> For I will repay David for his mercies.</html>
<html><b>a witness to nations</b> A prince and a superior over them, and one who will reprove and testify of their ways to their faces. ([Mss., however, read:] One who reproaches them for their ways to their faces.)</html>
<html><b>Behold, a nation you do not know you shall call</b> to your service, if you hearken to Me, to the name of the Lord that is called upon you.</html>
<html><b>when He is found</b> Before the verdict is promulgated, when He still says to you, “Seek Me.”</html>
<html><b>For My thoughts are not your thoughts</b> Mine and yours are not the same; therefore, I say to you, “The wicked shall give up his way,” and adopt My way… <b>“and a man of iniquity his thoughts”</b> and adopt My thoughts, to do what is good in My eyes. And the Midrash Aggadah (Tanhuma Buber, Vayeshev 11 explains:) <b>For My thoughts are not, etc.</b> My laws are not like the laws of man [lit. flesh and blood]. As for you, whoever confesses in judgment is found guilty, but, as for Me, whoever confesses and gives up his evil way, is granted clemency (Proverbs 28:13).</html>
<html><b>As the heavens are higher, etc.</b> That is to say that there is a distinction and a difference, advantages and superiority in My ways more than your ways and in My thoughts more than your thoughts, as the heavens are higher than the earth; you are intent upon rebelling against Me, whereas I am intent upon bringing you back.</html>
<html><b>For, just as the rain and the snow fall</b> and do not return empty, but do good for you.</html>
<html><b>so shall be My word that emanates from My mouth</b> to inform you through the prophets, will not return empty, but will do good to you if you heed them.</html>
<html><b>For with joy shall you go forth</b> from the exile. <b>the mountains and the hills shall burst into song before you</b> for they will give you their fruit and their plants, and their inhabitants shall derive benefit. ([Some editions read:] And their inhabitants shall sing.)</html>
<html><b>Instead of the briar, etc.</b> Our Rabbis expounded [Targum Jonathan]: Instead of the wicked, righteous people shall arise. <b>briar…and…nettle</b> They are species of thorns; i.e., to say that the wicked will be destroyed and the righteous will take their rule.</html>