Isaiah 40:6–11

6 A voice says, “Cry out.”

And I said, “What shall I cry?”

“All people are like grass,

and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.

7 The grass withers and the flowers fall,

because the breath of the Lord blows on them.

Surely the people are grass.

8 The grass withers and the flowers fall,

but the word of our God endures forever.”

9 You who bring good news to Zion,

go up on a high mountain.

You who bring good news to Jerusalem,

lift up your voice with a shout,

lift it up, do not be afraid;

say to the towns of Judah,

“Here is your God!”

10 See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power,

and he rules with a mighty arm.

See, his reward is with him,

and his recompense accompanies him.

11 He tends his flock like a shepherd:

He gathers the lambs in his arms

and carries them close to his heart;

he gently leads those that have young.

6 A voice says, “Cry!”

And I said, “What shall I cry?”

All flesh is grass,

and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.

7 The grass withers, the flower fades

when the breath of the Lord blows on it;

surely the people are grass.

8 The grass withers, the flower fades,

but the word of our God will stand forever.

9 Go on up to a high mountain,

O Zion, herald of good news;

lift up your voice with strength,

O Jerusalem, herald of good news;

lift it up, fear not;

say to the cities of Judah,

“Behold your God!”

10 Behold, the Lord God comes with might,

and his arm rules for him;

behold, his reward is with him,

and his recompense before him.

11 He will tend his flock like a shepherd;

he will gather the lambs in his arms;

he will carry them in his bosom,

and gently lead those that are with young.

6 The voice said, Cry.

And he said, What shall I cry?

All flesh is grass,

And all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:

7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth:

Because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it:

Surely the people is grass.

8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth:

But the word of our God shall stand for ever.

9 O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain;

O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength;

Lift it up, be not afraid;

Say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!

10 Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand,

And his arm shall rule for him:

Behold, his reward is with him,

And his work before him.

11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd:

He shall gather the lambs with his arm,

And carry them in his bosom,

And shall gently lead those that are with young.

6 A 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.

7 The grass withers and the flowers fade

beneath the breath of the Lord.

And so it is with people.

8 The grass withers and the flowers fade,

but the word of our God stands forever.”

9 O 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!”

10 Yes, the Sovereign Lord is coming in power.

He will rule with a powerful arm.

See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.

11 He 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.

6 The voice said, “Cry out!”

And he said, “What shall I cry?”

“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 the 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 with a strong hand,

And His arm shall rule for Him;

Behold, His reward is with Him,

And His work before Him.

11 He will feed 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.

6 A voice says, “Cry out!”

Then I said, “What shall I cry out?”

“Say all people are like the grass,

and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.

7 The grass dies and the flowers fall

when the breath of the Lord blows on them.

Surely the people are like grass.

8 The grass dies and the flowers fall,

but the word of our God will live forever.”

9 Jerusalem, you have good news to tell.

Go up on a high mountain.

Jerusalem, you have good news to tell.

Shout out loud the good news.

Shout it out and don’t be afraid.

Say to the towns of Judah,

“Here is your God.”

10 Look, the Lord God is coming with power

to rule all the people.

Look, he will bring reward for his people;

he will have their payment with him.

11 He takes care of his people like a shepherd.

He gathers them like lambs in his arms

and carries them close to him.

He gently leads the mothers of the lambs.

6 The voice of one saying, Cry. And one said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field. 7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, because the breath of Jehovah bloweth upon it; surely the people is grass. 8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth; but the word of our God shall stand forever.

9 O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion, get thee up on a high mountain; O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold, your God! 10 Behold, the Lord Jehovah will come as a mighty one, and his arm will rule for him: Behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. 11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and will gently lead those that have their young.

6 A voice called, “Call out!” 

I asked, “What should I call out?” 

“Call out: All people are like grass, 

and all their beauty is like a flower in the field. 

7 Grass dries up, 

and flowers wither when the Lord’s breath blows on them. 

Yes, people are like grass. 

8 Grass dries up, 

and flowers wither, 

but our God’s word will last forever.” 

9 Go up a high mountain, Zion. 

Tell the good news! 

Call out with a loud voice, Jerusalem. 

Tell the good news! 

Raise your voice without fear. 

Tell the cities of Judah: 

“Here is your God!” 

10 The Almighty Lord is coming with power 

to rule with authority. 

His reward is with him, 

and the people he has won arrive ahead of him. 

11 Like a shepherd he takes care of his flock. 

He gathers the lambs in his arms. 

He carries them in his arms. 

He gently helps the sheep and their lambs. 

6 A voice was saying, “Cry out!”

Another said, “What should I cry out?”

“All humanity is grass,

and all its goodness is like the flower of the field.

7 The grass withers, the flowers fade

when the breath of the Lord blows on them;

indeed, the people are grass.

8 The grass withers, the flowers fade,

but the word of our God remains forever.”

9 Zion, herald of good news,

go up on a high mountain.

Jerusalem, herald of good news,

raise your voice loudly.

Raise it, do not be afraid!

Say to the cities of Judah,

“Here is your God!”

10 See, the Lord God comes with strength,

and His power establishes His rule.

His reward is with Him,

and His gifts accompany Him.

11 He protects His flock like a shepherd;

He gathers the lambs in His arms

and carries them in the fold of His garment.

He gently leads those that are nursing.

6 A voice says, “Cry out!”

And I said, “What shall I cry?”

All flesh is grass;

their constancy is like the flower of the field.

7 The grass withers; the flower fades,

[[when the breath of the Lord blows upon it;

surely the people are grass.

8 The grass withers; the flower fades,]]

but the word of our God will stand forever.

9 Get you up to a high mountain,

O Zion, herald of good news;

lift up your voice with strength,

O Jerusalem, herald of good news;

lift it up, do not fear;

say to the cities of Judah,

“Here is your God!”

10 See, the Lord God comes with might,

and his arm rules for him;

his reward is with him

and his recompense before him.

11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd;

he will gather the lambs in his arms

and carry them in his bosom

and gently lead the mother sheep.

6 A voice is saying, “Call!”

And he said, “What shall I call?”

All humankind are grass,

and all his loyalty is like the flowers of the field.

7 Grass withers; the flower withers

when the breath of Yahweh blows on it.

Surely the people are grass.

8 Grass withers; the flower withers,

but the word of our God will stand forever.

9 Get yourself up to a high mountain, Zion, bringer of good news!

Lift up your voice with strength, Jerusalem, bringer of good news!

Lift it up; you must not fear!

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

10 Look! The Lord Yahweh comes with strength,

and his arm rules for him.

Look! His reward is with him,

and his recompense in his presence.

11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd;

he will gather the lambs in his arm,

and he will carry them in his bosom;

he will lead those who nurse.

6 Another messenger says, “Cry out.”

And I said, “What should I cry?”

“Cry out, ‘All people are like grass.

They don’t last any longer than flowers in the field.

7 The grass dries up. The flowers fall to the ground.

That happens when the Lord makes his wind blow on them.

So people are just like grass.

8 The grass dries up. The flowers fall to the ground.

But what our God says will stand forever.’ ”

9 Zion, you are bringing good news to your people.

Go up on a high mountain and announce it.

Jerusalem, you are bringing good news to them.

Shout the message loudly.

Shout it out loud. Don’t be afraid.

Say to the towns of Judah,

“Your God is coming!”

10 The Lord and King is coming with power.

His powerful arm will rule for him.

He has set his people free.

He is bringing them back as his reward.

He has won the battle over their enemies.

11 He takes care of his flock like a shepherd.

He gathers the lambs in his arms.

He carries them close to his heart.

He gently leads those that have little ones.

6 A voice says, “Call out.”

Then he answered, “What shall I call out?”

All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field.

7 The grass withers, the flower fades,

When the breath of the Lord blows upon it;

Surely the people are grass.

8 The grass withers, the flower fades,

But the word of our God stands forever.

9 Get yourself up on a high mountain,

O Zion, bearer of good news,

Lift up your voice mightily,

O Jerusalem, bearer of good news;

Lift it up, do not fear.

Say to the cities of Judah,

“Here is your God!”

10 Behold, the Lord God will come with might,

With His arm ruling for Him.

Behold, His reward is with Him

And His recompense before Him.

11 Like a shepherd He will tend His flock,

In His arm He will gather the lambs

And carry them in His bosom;

He will gently lead the nursing ewes.