Composite 20 - Isaiah 55:1; 12:3-4; 55:2-13 (Vespers, 2nd reading)
- 1
- Thus saith the Lord: “You that thirst, go to the water, and as many as have no money, go and buy; and eat and drink, without money or price, wine and fat.” For thus saith the Lord Almighty to you: “My people, draw water with gladness out of the fountain of salvation.” And you shall say in that day, “Sing to the Lord, call aloud upon His name, proclaim His glorious deeds among the nations; make known that His name is exalted.”
- 2
- “My people, hearken to Me and you shall eat that which is good, and your soul shall delight in good things. Give heed with your ears, and follow My ways. Hearken to me, and your soul shall live in good things; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant. And you shall call upon Me. And when you shall draw near to Me, let the impious depart from his ways, and the transgressor his counsels; and you shall return to Me, and I will forgive you and will forgive your sins.
- 3
- “For My counsels are not as your counsels, neither are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “But as the heaven is distant from the earth, so are My ways distant from your ways, and your thoughts from My thoughts. For as rain shall come down, or snow, from heaven, and shall not return thither until it waters the earth, bring forth and sprout, and give seed to the sower, and bread for food, so shall My word be. Whatever shall proceed out of My mouth, shall not return to me empty until it has accomplished all that I have purposed; and I will set aright your ways, and effect My commandments.
- 4
- “For you shall go forth with gladness and shall be taught with joy; for the mountains and the hills shall skip, awaiting you with joy; and all the trees of the field shall clap with their branches. And 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 eternal sign, and shall not fail,” saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel.