God’s People are Comforted

40 “Comfort, yes, comfort My people!”

Says your God.

2 “Speak 1comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her,

That her warfare is ended,

That her iniquity is pardoned;

aFor she has received from the Lord’s hand

Double for all her sins.”

3 bThe voice of one crying in the wilderness:

c“Prepare the way of the Lord;

dMake straight 2in the desert

A highway for our God.

4 Every valley shall be exalted

And every mountain and hill brought low;

eThe crooked places shall be made 3straight

And the rough places smooth;

5 The fglory of the Lord shall be revealed,

And all flesh shall see it together;

For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

6 The voice said, “Cry out!”

And 4he said, “What shall I cry?”

g“All flesh is grass,

And all its loveliness is like the flower of the field.

7 The grass withers, the flower fades,

Because the breath of the Lord blows upon it;

Surely the people are grass.

8 The grass withers, the flower fades,

But hthe word of our God stands forever.”

9 O Zion,

You who bring good tidings,

Get up into the high mountain;

O Jerusalem,

You who bring good tidings,

Lift up your voice with strength,

Lift it up, be not afraid;

Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!”

10 Behold, the Lord God shall come 5with a strong hand,

And iHis arm shall rule for Him;

Behold, jHis reward is with Him,

And His 6work before Him.

11 He will kfeed His flock like a shepherd;

He will gather the lambs with His arm,

And carry them in His bosom,

And gently lead those who are with young.