Isaiah 40:1–11

¹“Comfort, comfort My people,”

says your God.

²“Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,

and proclaim to her

that her forced labor has been completed;

her iniquity has been pardoned.

For she has received from the hand of the LORD

double for all her sins.”

³A voice of one calling:

“Prepare the way for the LORD in the wilderness;^a

make a straight highway for our God in the desert.^b

⁴Every valley shall be lifted up,

and every mountain and hill made low;

the uneven ground will become smooth,

and the rugged land a plain.^c

⁵And the glory of the LORD will be revealed,

and all humanity together will see it.”^d

For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

⁶A voice says, “Cry out!”

And I asked, “What should I cry out?”

“All flesh is like grass,

and all its glory like the flowers of the field.

⁷The grass withers and the flowers fall

when the breath of the LORD blows on them;

indeed, the people are grass.

⁸The grass withers and the flowers fall,

but the word of our God stands forever.”^e

⁹Go up on a high mountain,

O Zion, herald of good news.

Raise your voice loudly,

O Jerusalem, herald of good news.

Lift it up,^f

do not be afraid!

Say to the cities of Judah,

“Here is your God!”

¹⁰Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might,

and His arm establishes His rule.

His reward is with Him,

and His recompense accompanies Him.

¹¹He tends His flock like a shepherd;

He gathers the lambs in His arms

and carries them close to His heart.

He gently leads the nursing ewes.