Psalm 116 (NIV)
1I love the Lord , for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.
2Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.
3The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.
4Then I called on the name of the Lord : “O Lord , save me!”
5The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.
6The Lord protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me.
7Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.
8For you, O Lord , have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling,
9that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living.
10I believed; therefore I said, “I am greatly afflicted.”
11And in my dismay I said, “All men are liars.”
12How can I repay the Lord for all his goodness to me?
13I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord .
14I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.
15Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.
16O Lord , truly I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant ; you have freed me from my chains.
17I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord .
18I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people,
19in the courts of the house of the Lord – in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the Lord .
Isaiah 55 (NIV)
1“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
2Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.
3Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.
4See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander of the peoples.
5Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations that do not know you will hasten to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor.”
6Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
7Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord , and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
8“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord .
9“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
12You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
13Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord ‘s renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed.”