Isaiah 40:1-31 (New International Version)

Comfort for God's People

1 Comfort, comfort¹ my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly² to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service³ has been completed,⁴ that her sin has been paid for,⁵ that she has received from the LORD's hand double⁶ for all her sins. 3 A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way⁷ for the LORD^a; make straight⁸ in the wilderness a highway for our God.^b9 4 Every valley shall be raised up,¹⁰ every mountain and hill¹¹ made low; the rough ground shall become level,¹² the rugged places a plain. 5 And the glory¹³ of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it.¹⁴ For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."¹⁵ 6 A voice says, "Cry out." And I said, "What shall I cry?" "All men are like grass,¹⁶ and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. 7 The grass withers¹⁷ and the flowers fall, because the breath¹⁸ of the LORD blows¹⁹ on them. Surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers and the flowers²⁰ fall, but the word²¹ of our God stands²² forever.²³" 9 You who bring good tidings²⁴ to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem,^c25 lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, "Here is your God!"²⁶ 10 See, the Sovereign LORD comes²⁷ with power,²⁸ and his arm²⁹ rules³⁰ for him. See, his reward³¹ is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. 11 He tends his flock like a shepherd:³² He gathers the lambs in his arms³³ and carries them close to his heart;³⁴ he gently leads³⁵ those that have young.³⁶ 12 Who has measured the waters³⁷ in the hollow of his hand,³⁸ or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?³⁹ Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?⁴⁰ 13 Who has understood the mind^d41 of the LORD, or instructed him as his counselor?⁴² 14 Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge⁴³ or showed him the path of understanding?⁴⁴ 15 Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales;⁴⁵ he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.⁴⁶ 16 Lebanon⁴⁷ is not sufficient for altar fires, nor its animals⁴⁸ enough for burnt offerings. 17 Before him all the nations⁴⁹ are as nothing;⁵⁰ they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing.⁵¹ 18 To whom, then, will you compare God?⁵² What image⁵³ will you compare him to? 19 As for an idol,⁵⁴ a craftsman casts it, and a goldsmith⁵⁵ overlays it with gold⁵⁶ and fashions silver chains for it. 20 A man too poor to present such an offering selects wood⁵⁷ that will not rot. He looks for a skilled craftsman to set up an idol⁵⁸ that will not topple.⁵⁹ 21 Do you not know? Have you not heard?⁶⁰ Has it not been told⁶¹ you from the beginning?⁶² Have you not understood⁶³ since the earth was founded?⁶⁴ 22 He sits enthroned⁶⁵ above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers.⁶⁶ He stretches out the heavens⁶⁷ like a canopy,⁶⁸ and spreads them out like a tent⁶⁹ to live in.⁷⁰ 23 He brings princes⁷¹ to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.⁷² 24 No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root⁷³ in the ground, than he blows⁷⁴ on them and they wither,⁷⁵ and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.⁷⁶ 25 "To whom will you compare me?⁷⁷ Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One.⁷⁸ 26 Lift your eyes and look to the heavens:⁷⁹ Who created⁸⁰ all these? He who brings out the starry host⁸¹ one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength,⁸² not one of them is missing.⁸³ 27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God"?⁸⁴ 28 Do you not know? Have you not heard?⁸⁵ The LORD is the everlasting⁸⁶ God, the Creator⁸⁷ of the ends of the earth.⁸⁸ He will not grow tired or weary,⁸⁹ and his understanding no one can fathom.⁹⁰ 29 He gives strength⁹¹ to the weary⁹² and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men⁹³ stumble and fall;⁹⁴ 31 but those who hope⁹⁵ in the LORD will renew their strength.⁹⁶ They will soar on wings like eagles;⁹⁷ they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.⁹⁸