Logos Bible Study

Isaiah 55:6–9

The NET BibleOther versions

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55:6Seek the Lord while he makes himself available;16

call to him while he is nearby!

55:7The wicked need to abandon their lifestyle17

and sinful people their plans.18

They should return19 to the Lord, and he will show mercy to them,20

and to their God, for he will freely forgive them.21

55:8“Indeed,22 my plans23 are not like24 your plans,

and my deeds25 are not like26 your deeds,

55:9for just as the sky27 is higher than the earth,

so my deeds28 are superior to29 your deeds

and my plans30 superior to your plans.

Read in Logos
Isaiah 55:6–7: “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him …”

Footnotes

  1. 16 Heb “while he allows himself to be found.” The Niphal form has a tolerative force here.
  2. 17 Heb “Let the wicked one abandon his way.” The singular is collective.
  3. 18 Heb “and the man of evil his thoughts.” The singular is collective.
  4. 19 Heb “let him return.” The singular is collective, meaning “let them.”
  5. 20 The imperfect with vav (ו) conjunctive after the jussive indicates purpose/result.
  6. 21 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. 22 Or “For” (, , , ).
  8. 23 Or “thoughts” (so many English versions).
  9. 24 Heb “are not.” “Like” is interpretive, but v. 9 indicates that a comparison is in view.
  10. 25 Heb “ways” (so many English versions).
  11. 26 Heb “are not.” “Like” is interpretive, but v. 9 indicates that a comparison is in view.
  12. 27 Or “the heavens.” The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heavens” or “sky” depending on the context.
  13. 28 Heb “ways” (so many English versions).
  14. 29 Heb “are higher than.”
  15. 30 Or “thoughts” (so many English versions).

The NET Bible First Edition, Copyright 1996-2005 by Biblical Studies Press

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

“Seek the Lord while he may be found;

call upon him while he is near;

let the wicked forsake his way,

and the unrighteous man his thoughts;

let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,

and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Copyright 2001 Crossway Bibles

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Seek the Lord while he may be found;

call on him while he is near.

Let the wicked forsake their ways

and the unrighteous their thoughts.

Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them,

and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways,”

declares the Lord.

“As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica, Inc.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Seek the Lord while he may be found;

call to him while he is near.

Let the wicked one abandon his way

and the sinful one his thoughts;

let him return to the Lord,

so he may have compassion on him,

and to our God, for he will freely forgive.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

and your ways are not my ways.”

This is the Lord’s declaration.

“For as heaven is higher than earth,

so my ways are higher than your ways,

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Copyright 2017 Holman Bible Publishers

NLTNew Living Translation

Seek the Lord while you can find him.

Call on him now while he is near.

Let the wicked change their ways

and banish the very thought of doing wrong.

Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them.

Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.

“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.

For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so my ways are higher than your ways

and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Seek Yahweh while he lets himself be found;

call him while he is near.

Let the wicked forsake his way,

and the man of sin his thoughts.

And let him return to Yahweh, that he may take pity on him,

and to our God, for he will forgive manifold.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

and your ways are not my ways,”

declares Yahweh.

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so my ways are higher than your ways,

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Copyright 2012 Lexham Press

KJV 1900King James Version

Seek ye the Lord while he may be found,

Call ye upon him while he is near:

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.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

Neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

So are my ways higher than your ways,

And my thoughts than your thoughts.

Public Domain