The Invitation to the Waters
Isaiah 55
All who thirst are invited to come to the waters and eat and drink without price, and to seek the Lord while he may be found, turning from wicked ways to receive abundant pardon. The Lord's word is likened to rain and snow that accomplish their purpose before returning, and the people are promised they will go out with joy, welcomed by the mountains and trees.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonHO! ye who are thirsting, come to water! and ye who have no money, come buy and eat, without money and without price, wine and the choicest bread.
BrentonYe that thirst, go to the water, and all that have no money, go and buy; and eat and drink wine and fat without money or price.
GreekΟἱ διψῶντες πορεύεσθε ἐφʼ ὕδωρ, καὶ ὅσοι μὴ ἔχετε ἀργύριον, βαδίσαντες ἀγοράσατε, καὶ φάγετε ἄνευ ἀργυρίου καὶ τιμῆς οἶνον καὶ στέαρ.
KJVHo, 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.
JPSHo, every one that thirsteth, come ye for water, And he that hath no money; Come ye, buy, and eat; Yea, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price.
2
ThomsonWhy are you expending money and labour for that which will not satisfy? Hearken to Me and you shall eat good things; and your soul will be regaled with delicacies.
BrentonWherefore do ye value at the price of money, and give your labour for that which will not satisfy? hearken to me, and ye shall eat that which is good, and your soul shall feast itself on good things.
GreekἹνατί τιμᾶσθε ἀργυρίου, καὶ τὸν μόχθον ὑμῶν οὐκ εἰς πλησμονήν; ἀκούσατέ μου, καὶ φάγεσθε ἀγαθὰ, καὶ ἐντρυφήσει ἐν ἀγαθοῖς ἡ ψυχὴ ὑμῶν.
KJVWherefore 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.
JPSWherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? And your gain 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
ThomsonIncline your ears and follow in My paths; hearken to Me and your soul shall live on good things; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant—the gracious promises to David which are faithful.
BrentonGive heed with your ears, and follow my ways: hearken to me, and your soul shall live in prosperity; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, the sure mercies of David.
GreekΠροσέχετε τοῖς ὠσὶν ὑμῶν, καὶ ἐπακολουθήσατε ταῖς ὁδοῖς μου· εἰσακούσατέ μου, καὶ ζήσεται ἐν ἀγαθοῖς ἡ ψυχὴ ὑμῶν, καὶ διαθήσομαι ὑμῖν διαθήκην αἰώνιον, τὰ ὅσια Δαυὶδ τὰ πιστά.
KJVIncline 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.
JPSIncline 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
ThomsonBehold for a testimony to nations I gave him,—a chief and a lawgiver to nations.
BrentonBehold, I have made him a testimony among the Gentiles, a prince and commander to the Gentiles.
GreekἸδοὺ, μαρτύριον ἐν ἔθνεσιν ἔδωκα αὐτὸν, ἄρχοντα καὶ προστάσσοντα ἔθνεσιν.
KJVBehold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.
JPSBehold, I have given him for a witness to the peoples, A prince and commander to the peoples.
5
ThomsonNations which knew thee not will fly to thee, for the sake of the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, because He hath glorified thee.
BrentonNations which know thee not, shall call upon thee, and peoples which are not acquainted with thee, shall flee to thee for refuge, for the sake of the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel; for he has glorified thee.
GreekἜθνη ἃ οὐκ οἴδασί σε, ἐπικαλέσονταί σε, καὶ λαοὶ οἳ οὐκ ἐπίστανταί σε, ἐπὶ σὲ καταφεύξονται, ἕνεκεν Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ σου τοῦ ἁγίου Ἰσραὴλ, ὅτι ἐδόξασέν σε.
KJVBehold, 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.
JPSBehold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, And a nation 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
ThomsonSeek ye the Lord; and when you find him call upon Him. And when He draweth near to you;
BrentonSeek ye the Lord, and when ye find him, call upon him; and when he shall draw nigh to you,
GreekΖητήσατε τὸν Κύριον, καὶ ἐν τῷ εὑρίσκειν αὐτὸν, ἐπικαλέσασθε· ἡνίκα δʼ ἂν ἐγγίζῃ ὑμῖν,
KJVSeek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
JPSSeek ye the LORD while He may be found, Call ye upon Him while He is near;
7
Thomsonlet the wicked man forsake his ways, and the unrighteous man his counsels, and turn to the Lord and he shall find mercy; for He will abundantly pardon your sins.
Brentonlet the ungodly leave his ways, and the transgressor his counsels: and let him return to the Lord, and he shall find mercy; for he shall abundantly pardon your sins.
Greekἀπολιπέτω ὁ ἀσεβὴς τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀνὴρ ἄνομος τὰς βουλὰς αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐπιστραφήτω ἐπὶ Κύριον, καὶ ἐλεηθήσεται, ὅτι ἐπὶ πολὺ ἀφήσει τὰς ἁμαρτίας ὑμῶν.
KJVLet 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.
JPSLet the wicked forsake his way, And the man of iniquity his thoughts; And let him return unto the LORD, and He will have compassion upon him, And to our God, for He will abundantly pardon
8
ThomsonFor My counsels are not as your counsels; nor are My ways as your ways, saith the Lord.
BrentonFor my counsels are not as your counsels, nor are my ways as your ways, saith the Lord.
GreekΟὐ γάρ εἰσιν αἱ βουλαί μου ὥσπερ αἱ βουλαὶ ὑμῶν, οὐδʼ ὥσπερ αἱ ὁδοὶ ὑμῶν αἱ ὁδοί μου, λέγει Κύριος.
KJVFor my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
JPSFor My thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways My ways, saith the LORD.
9
ThomsonBut distant as the heaven is from the earth, so is My way distant from your ways; and your thoughts from My understanding.
BrentonBut as the heaven is distant from the earth, so is my way distant from your ways, and your thoughts from my mind.
GreekἈλλʼ ὡς ἀπέχει ὁ οὐρανὸς ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς, οὕτως ἀπέχει ἡ ὁδός μου ἀπὸ τῶν ὁδῶν ὑμῶν, καὶ τὰ διανοήματα ὑμῶν ἀπὸ τῆς διανοίας μου.
KJVFor as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
JPSFor as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.
10
ThomsonFor as the rain when it descendeth, or snow, from the heavens, doth not return thither, till it hath watered the earth, and caused it to generate and bloom and yield seed for the sower and bread for food;
BrentonFor as rain shall come down, or snow, from heaven, and shall not return until it have saturated the earth, and it bring forth, and bud, and give seed to the sower, and bread for food:
GreekὩς γὰρ ἂν καταβῇ ὁ ὑετὸς ἢ χιὼν ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, καὶ οὐ μὴ ἀποστραφῇ ἕως ἂν μεθύσῃ τὴν γῆν, καὶ ἐκτέκῃ, καὶ ἐκβλαστήσῃ, καὶ δῷ σπέρμα τῷ σπείροντι, καὶ ἄρτον εἰς βρῶσιν·
KJVFor 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:
JPSFor as the rain cometh down and the snow from heaven, And returneth not thither, Except it water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, And give seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
11
Thomsonso shall it be with My word: when it hath proceeded from My mouth, it shall not be reversed, till all are accomplished which I willed; and till I prosper thy ways and My commandments.
Brentonso shall my word be, whatever shall proceed out of my mouth, it shall by no means turn back, until all the things which I willed shall have been accomplished; and I will make thy ways prosperous, and will effect my commands.
Greekοὕτως ἔσται τὸ ῥῆμά μου, ὃ ἐὰν ἐξέλθῃ ἐκ τοῦ στόματός μου, οὐ μὴ ἀποστραφῇ, ἕως ἂν τελεσθῇ ὅσα ἂν ἠθέλησα, καὶ εὐοδώσω τὰς ὁδούς σου, καὶ τὰ ἐντάλματά μου.
KJV—
JPS—
12
ThomsonFor with gladness you shall go forth; and with joyfulness you shall be taught: for the mountains and hills shall leap for joy, expecting you; and all the trees of the field will clap with their branches.
BrentonFor ye shall go forth with joy, and shall be taught with gladness: for the mountains and the hills shall exult to welcome you with joy, and all the trees of the field shall applaud with their branches.
GreekἘν γὰρ εὐφροσύνῃ ἐξελεύσεσθε, καὶ ἐν χαρᾷ διδαχθήσεσθε· τὰ γὰρ ὄρη καὶ οἱ βουνοὶ ἐξαλοῦνται προσδεχόμενοι ὑμᾶς ἐν χαρᾷ, καὶ πάντα τὰ ξύλα τοῦ ἀγροῦ ἐπικροτήσει τοῖς κλάδοις.
KJVFor 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.
JPSFor 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
ThomsonAnd instead of the briar, shall spring up the cypress; and instead of the nettle, shall come up the myrtle. And the Lord shall be for a name, and for an everlasting sign which shall not fail.
BrentonAnd instead of the bramble shall come up the cypress, and instead of the nettle shall come up the myrtle: and the Lord shall be for a name, and for an everlasting sign, and shall not fail.
GreekΚαὶ ἀντὶ τῆς στοιβῆς ἀναβήσεται κυπάρισσος, ἀντὶ δὲ τῆς κονύζης ἀναβήσεται μυρσίνη· καὶ ἔσται Κύριος εἰς ὄνομα, καὶ εἰς σημεῖον αἰώνιον, καὶ οὐκ ἐκλείψει.
KJVInstead 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.
JPSInstead of the thorn shall come up the cypress, And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; And it shall be to the LORD for a memorial, For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.