Discovery BoxIsaiah 55:6-9 
Context55:6 Seek the Lord while he makes himself available; 1
call to him while he is nearby!
55:7 The wicked need to abandon their lifestyle 2
and sinful people their plans. 3
They should return 4 to the Lord, and he will show mercy to them, 5
and to their God, for he will freely forgive them. 6
55:8 “Indeed, 7 my plans 8 are not like 9 your plans,
and my deeds 10 are not like 11 your deeds,
55:9 for just as the sky 12 is higher than the earth,
so my deeds 13 are superior to 14 your deeds
and my plans 15 superior to your plans.
1 tn Heb “while he allows himself to be found.” The Niphal form has a tolerative force here.
2 tn Heb “Let the wicked one abandon his way.” The singular is collective.
3 tn Heb “and the man of evil his thoughts.” The singular is collective.
4 tn Heb “let him return.” The singular is collective, meaning “let them.”
5 tn The imperfect with vav (ו) conjunctive after the jussive indicates purpose/result.
6 sn 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 tn Or “For” (KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV).
8 tn Or “thoughts” (so many English versions).
9 tn Heb “are not.” “Like” is interpretive, but v. 9 indicates that a comparison is in view.
10 tn Heb “ways” (so many English versions).
11 tn Heb “are not.” “Like” is interpretive, but v. 9 indicates that a comparison is in view.
12 tn Or “the heavens.” The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heavens” or “sky” depending on the context.
13 tn Heb “ways” (so many English versions).
14 tn Heb “are higher than.”
15 tn Or “thoughts” (so many English versions).
