Isaiah 40
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International Standard VersionBerean Study Bible
1"Comfort! Yes, comfort my people," says your God.1“Comfort, comfort My people,” says your God.
2"Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her heavy service has been completed, that her penalty has been paid, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins."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 cries out: 'In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; and in the desert a straight highway for our God.'3A voice of one calling: “Prepare the way for the LORD in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert.
4Every valley will be lifted up, and every mountain and hill will be lowered; the rough ground will become level, and the mountain ridges made a plain.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.
5Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all humanity will see it at once; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."5And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all humanity together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
6A voice says, "Cry out!" So I asked, "What am I to cry out?" "All humanity is grass, and all its loyalty is like the flowers of the field.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.
7Grass withers and flowers fade away when the LORD's breath blows on them; surely the people are like grass. 7The grass withers and the flowers fall when the breath of the LORD blows on them; indeed, the people are grass.
8Grass withers and flowers fade away, when the LORD's breath blows on them, but the word of our God will stand forever. "8The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”
9"Climb up a high mountain, you messenger of good news to Zion! Lift up your voice with strength, you messenger to Jerusalem! Lift it up! Don't be afraid! Say to the towns of Judah, 'Here is your God!'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, do not be afraid! Say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!”
10Look! The Lord GOD comes with strength, and his arm rules for him. Look! His reward is with him, and his payment accompanies him.10Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and His arm establishes His rule. His reward is with Him, and His recompense accompanies Him.
11Like a shepherd, he tends his flock. He gathers the lambs in his arms, carries them close to his heart, and gently leads the mother sheep."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.
12"Who has measured the waters of the sea in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens by the width of his hand? Who has enclosed the dust of the earth in a measuring bowl, or weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?12Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or marked off the heavens with the span of his hand? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on a scale and the hills with a balance?
13Who has fathomed the Spirit of the LORD, or as his counselor has taught him? 13Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or informed Him as His counselor?
14With whom did he consult to enlighten and instruct him on the path of justice? Or who taught him knowledge and showed him the way of wisdom?14Whom did He consult to enlighten Him, and who taught Him the paths of justice? Who imparted knowledge to Him and showed Him the way of understanding?
15"Look! The nations are like a drop in a bucket, and are reckoned as dust on the scales. Look! He even lifts up the islands like powder!15Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are considered a speck of dust on the scales; He lifts up the islands like fine dust.
16Lebanon would not provide enough fuel, nor are its animals enough for a burnt offering. 16Lebanon is not sufficient for fuel, nor its animals enough for a burnt offering.
17All the nations are as nothing before him— they are reckoned by him as nothing and chaos.17All the nations are as nothing before Him; He regards them as nothingness and emptiness.
18"To whom, then, will you compare me, the One who is God? Or to what image will you liken me? 18To whom will you liken God? To what image will you compare Him?
19To an idol? A craftsman makes the image, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and casts silver chains.19To an idol that a craftsman casts and a metalworker overlays with gold and fits with silver chains?
20To the impoverished person? He prepares an offering— wood that won't rot— Or to the one who chooses a skilled craftsman and seeks to erect an idol that won't topple?"20To one bereft of an offering who chooses wood that will not rot, who seeks a skilled craftsman to set up an idol that will not topple?
21"You know, don't you? You have heard, haven't you? Hasn't it been told you from the beginning? Haven't you understood from the foundations of the earth?21Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been declared to you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the foundation of the earth?
22He's the one who sits above the disk of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers. He's the one who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to live in,22He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth; its dwellers are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.
23who brings princes to nothing, and makes void the rulers of the earth.23He brings the princes to nothing and makes the rulers of the earth meaningless.
24No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner have their stems taken root in the earth, than he blows on them, and they wither, and the tempest sweeps them away like stubble.24No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner have their stems taken root in the ground, than He blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like stubble.
25"To whom, then, will you compare me, and to whom should I be equal?" asks the Holy One.25“To whom will you liken Me, or who is My equal?” asks the Holy One.
26"Lift your eyes up to heaven and see who created all these— the one who leads out their vast array of stars by number, calling them all by name— because of his great might and his powerful strength — and not one is missing."26Lift up your eyes on high: Who created all these? He leads forth the starry host by number; He calls each one by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.
27"Jacob, why do you say— and Israel, why do you complain— 'My predicament is hidden from the LORD, and my cause is ignored by my God.'?27Why do you say, O Jacob, and why do you assert, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD, and my claim is ignored by my God”?
28Don't you know? Haven't you heard? The LORD is the eternal God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not grow tired or weary; and his understanding cannot be fathomed.28Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary; His understanding is beyond searching out.
29He's the one who gives might to the faint, renewing strength for the powerless.29He gives power to the faint and increases the strength of the weak.
30Even boys grow tired and weary, and young men collapse and fall,30Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall.
31but those who keep waiting for the LORD will renew their strength. Then they'll soar on wings like eagles; they'll run and not grow weary; they'll walk and not grow tired."31But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.
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Isaiah 39
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