A SPECIAL WORD FOR THE READER: "Say there! Is anyone thirsty for help and success? Come and learn from God - even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of knowledge and wisdom - it's all free! Why spend your money on [things] that don't give you strength? Why pay for [things] that don't do you any good? Listen and I'll tell you where to get good food that [strengthens and develops] the soul! Come to me with you ears wide open. Listen, for the life of your soul and personal success is at stake. I (the Lord God) am ready to make an everlasting [agreement] with you, to give you all the unfailing mercies and love that I had for King David. He proved my power by conquering foreign nations. You also will [be a conqueror], not because of your own power or virtue but because I, the Lord your God, have [honored] you. Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call upon him now while he is near! Let men cast off their wicked deeds; (It is actually a wicked thing to make a move in your life without consulting God!); let them banish from their minds the very thought of doing wrong! Let them turn to the Lord that he may [guide] them, and to our God, for he will abundantly [prosper]! This plan of mine is not what you would work out (says the Lord), neither are my thoughts the same as yours! For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than yours, and my thoughts than yours. As the rain and snow come down from heaven and stay upon the ground to water the earth, and cause the grain to grow and to produce seed for the farmer and [food] for the hungry, so also is my Word. I send it out and it always produces fruit. It shall accomplish all I want it to, and prosper everywhere I send it. You will live in joy and peace. [All that is around you will rejoice]! Where once were [disappointments, accomplishments will come]; where [failures] grew, [success] will sprout up. This miracle will make the Lord's name very
