6 Seekb the Lord while he may be found;c

calld on him while he is near.

7 Let the wicked forsakee their ways

and the unrighteous their thoughts.f

Let them turng to the Lord, and he will have mercyh on them,

and to our God, for he will freely pardon.i

8 “For my thoughtsj are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways,”k

declares the Lord.

9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,l

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.m

10 As the rainn and the snow

come down from heaven,

and do not return to it

without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish,o

so that it yields seedp for the sower and bread for the eater,q

11 so is my wordr that goes out from my mouth:

It will not return to me empty,s

but will accomplish what I desire

and achieve the purposet for which I sent it.

12 You will go out in joyu

and be led forth in peace;v

the mountains and hills

will burst into songw before you,

and all the treesx of the field

will clap their hands.y

13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,

and instead of briersz the myrtlea will grow.

This will be for the Lord’s renown,b

for an everlasting sign,

that will endure forever.”