Isaiah 40
1“Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God. 1
2“Speak tenderly to Jerusalem; and proclaim to her 1 that her warfare has ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, 1 that she has received double from Yahweh's hand for all her sins.” 1
3A voice cries out, 1 “In the wilderness prepare the way of Yahweh; 1 make straight in the Arabah a highway for our God.” + 40:3 Some older modern versions have A voice cries out in the wilderness . 1
4Every valley will be lifted up, and every mountain and hill will be leveled; 1 and the rugged land will be made level, and the rough places a plain; 1
5and the glory of Yahweh will be revealed, and all people will see it together; for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken it. 1
6A voice says, “Cry.” Another answers, “What should I cry?” 1 “All flesh is grass, and all their covenant faithfulness is like the flower of the field. 1
7The grass withers and the flower wilts when the breath of Yahweh blows on it; surely humanity is grass. 1
8The grass withers, the flower wilts, but the word of our God will stand forever.” 1
9Go up on a high mountain, Zion, bearer of good news. + 40:9 Instead of Go up on a high mountain, Zion, bearer of good news , some versions have You who are bearing good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain . 1 Shout out loud, Jerusalem. You who bring good news, raise your voice, do not be afraid. + 40:9 Instead of Jerusalem, proclaimer of good news , some versions have proclaim good news to Jerusalem . 1 Say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!” 1
10Look, the Lord Yahweh comes as a victorious warrior, and his strong arm rules for him. 1 See, his reward is with him, and those he has rescued go before him. 1
11He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather in his arm the lambs, 1 and carry them close to his heart, 1 and will gently lead the ewes nursing their young. 1
12Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, measured the sky with the span of his hand, 1 held the dust of the earth in a basket, weighed the mountains in scales, 1 or the hills in a balance? 1
13Who has comprehended the mind of Yahweh, or instructed him as his counselor? 1
14From whom did he ever receive instruction? Who taught him the correct way to do things, 1 and taught him knowledge, or showed to him the way of understanding? 1
15Look, the nations are like a drop in a bucket, and are regarded like the dust on the scales; 1 see, he weighs the isles as a speck. 1
16Lebanon is not sufficient fuel, 1 nor its wild animals sufficient for a burnt offering. 1
17All the nations are insufficient before him; they are regarded by him as nothing. 1
18To whom then will you compare God? To what idol will you liken him? 1
19An idol! A craftsman casts it: The goldsmith overlays it with gold 1 and forges silver chains for it. 1
20To make an offering one chooses a wood that will not rot; 1 he seeks a skillful artisan to make an idol that will not fall over. 1
21Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? 1 Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? 1
22He is the one who sits above the horizon of the earth; and the inhabitants are like grasshoppers before him. 1 He stretches out the heavens like a curtain and spreads them out as a tent to live in. 1
23He reduces rulers to nothing and makes the rulers of the earth insignificant. 1
24They are barely planted, barely sown, their stem has barely taken root in the earth, 1 when he blows upon them and they wither, and the wind carries them away like straw. 1
25“To whom then will you compare me, whom do I resemble?” says the Holy One. 1
26Look up at the sky! Who has created all these stars? 1 He leads out their formations and calls them all by name. 1 By the greatness of his might and by the strength of his power, not one is missing. 1
27Why do you say, Jacob, and declare, Israel, 1 “My way is hidden from Yahweh, and my God is not concerned about my vindication”? 1
28Have you not known? Have you not heard? 1 The everlasting God, Yahweh, the Creator of the ends of the earth, 1 does not get tired or weary; there is no limit to his understanding. 1
29He gives strength to the tired; and to the weak he gives renewed energy. 1
30Even young people become tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall: 1
31but those who wait for Yahweh will renew their strength; they will soar with wings like eagles; 1 they will run and not be weary; they will walk and not faint.