New Living Translation

New Living Translation

1“Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God.

1“Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God.

2“Speak tenderly to Jerusalem. Tell her that her sad days are gone and her sins are pardoned. Yes, the LORD has punished her twice over for all her sins.”

2“Speak tenderly to Jerusalem. Tell her that her sad days are gone and her sins are pardoned. Yes, the LORD has punished her twice over for all her sins.”

3Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting, “Clear the way through the wilderness for the LORD! Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God!

3Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting, “Clear the way through the wilderness for the LORD! Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God!

4Fill in the valleys, and level the mountains and hills. Straighten the curves, and smooth out the rough places.

4Fill in the valleys, and level the mountains and hills. Straighten the curves, and smooth out the rough places.

5Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. The LORD has spoken!”

5Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. The LORD has spoken!”

6A voice said, “Shout!” I asked, “What should I shout?” “Shout that people are like the grass. Their beauty fades as quickly as the flowers in a field.

6A voice said, “Shout!” I asked, “What should I shout?” “Shout that people are like the grass. Their beauty fades as quickly as the flowers in a field.

7The grass withers and the flowers fade beneath the breath of the LORD. And so it is with people.

7The grass withers and the flowers fade beneath the breath of the LORD. And so it is with people.

8The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.”

8The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.”

9O Zion, messenger of good news, shout from the mountaintops! Shout it louder, O Jerusalem. Shout, and do not be afraid. Tell the towns of Judah, “Your God is coming!”

9O Zion, messenger of good news, shout from the mountaintops! Shout it louder, O Jerusalem. Shout, and do not be afraid. Tell the towns of Judah, “Your God is coming!”

10Yes, the Sovereign LORD is coming in power. He will rule with a powerful arm. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.

10Yes, the Sovereign LORD is coming in power. He will rule with a powerful arm. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.

11He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young. The LORD Has No Equal

11He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young. The LORD Has No Equal

12Who else has held the oceans in his hand? Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers? Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale?

12Who else has held the oceans in his hand? Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers? Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale?

13Who is able to advise the Spirit of the LORD? Who knows enough to give him advice or teach him?

13Who is able to advise the Spirit of the LORD? Who knows enough to give him advice or teach him?

14Has the LORD ever needed anyone’s advice? Does he need instruction about what is good? Did someone teach him what is right or show him the path of justice?

14Has the LORD ever needed anyone’s advice? Does he need instruction about what is good? Did someone teach him what is right or show him the path of justice?

15No, for all the nations of the world are but a drop in the bucket. They are nothing more than dust on the scales. He picks up the whole earth as though it were a grain of sand.

15No, for all the nations of the world are but a drop in the bucket. They are nothing more than dust on the scales. He picks up the whole earth as though it were a grain of sand.

16All the wood in Lebanon’s forests and all Lebanon’s animals would not be enough to make a burnt offering worthy of our God.

16All the wood in Lebanon’s forests and all Lebanon’s animals would not be enough to make a burnt offering worthy of our God.

17The nations of the world are worth nothing to him. In his eyes they count for less than nothing— mere emptiness and froth.

17The nations of the world are worth nothing to him. In his eyes they count for less than nothing— mere emptiness and froth.

18To whom can you compare God? What image can you find to resemble him?

18To whom can you compare God? What image can you find to resemble him?

19Can he be compared to an idol formed in a mold, overlaid with gold, and decorated with silver chains?

19Can he be compared to an idol formed in a mold, overlaid with gold, and decorated with silver chains?

20Or if people are too poor for that, they might at least choose wood that won’t decay and a skilled craftsman to carve an image that won’t fall down!

20Or if people are too poor for that, they might at least choose wood that won’t decay and a skilled craftsman to carve an image that won’t fall down!

21Haven’t you heard? Don’t you understand? Are you deaf to the words of God— the words he gave before the world began? Are you so ignorant?

21Haven’t you heard? Don’t you understand? Are you deaf to the words of God— the words he gave before the world began? Are you so ignorant?

22God sits above the circle of the earth. The people below seem like grasshoppers to him! He spreads out the heavens like a curtain and makes his tent from them.

22God sits above the circle of the earth. The people below seem like grasshoppers to him! He spreads out the heavens like a curtain and makes his tent from them.

23He judges the great people of the world and brings them all to nothing.

23He judges the great people of the world and brings them all to nothing.

24They hardly get started, barely taking root, when he blows on them and they wither. The wind carries them off like chaff.

24They hardly get started, barely taking root, when he blows on them and they wither. The wind carries them off like chaff.

25“To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal?” asks the Holy One.

25“To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal?” asks the Holy One.

26Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. Because of his great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing.

26Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. Because of his great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing.

27O Jacob, how can you say the LORD does not see your troubles? O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights?

27O Jacob, how can you say the LORD does not see your troubles? O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights?

28Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding.

28Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding.

29He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.

29He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.

30Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion.

30Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion.

31But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

31But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.