Isaiah 40:1–5

Comfort, comfort my people,

says your God.

Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,

and proclaim to her

that her hard service has been completed,

that her sin has been paid for,

that she has received from the Lord’s hand

double for all her sins.

A voice of one calling:

“In the wilderness prepare

the way for the Lord;

make straight in the desert

a highway for our God.

Every valley shall be raised up,

every mountain and hill made low;

the rough ground shall become level,

the rugged places a plain.

And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,

and all people will see it together.

For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

“Comfort, comfort my people,”

says your God.

“Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,

and announce to her

that her time of hard service is over,

her iniquity has been pardoned,

and she has received from the Lord’s hand

double for all her sins.”

A voice of one crying out:

Prepare the way of the Lord in the wilderness;

make a straight highway for our God in the desert.

Every valley will be lifted up,

and every mountain and hill will be leveled;

the uneven ground will become smooth

and the rough places, a plain.

And the glory of the Lord will appear,

and all humanity together will see it,

for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

“Comfort, comfort my people,”

says your God.

“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.”

Listen! 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!

Fill in the valleys,

and level the mountains and hills.

Straighten the curves,

and smooth out the rough places.

Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed,

and all people will see it together.

The Lord has spoken!”

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

“Speak to the heart of Jerusalem, and call to her,

that her compulsory labor is fulfilled, that her sin is paid for,

that she has received from the hand of Yahweh double for all her sins.”

A voice is calling in the wilderness, “Clear the way of Yahweh!

Make a highway smooth in the desert for our God!

Every valley shall be lifted up,

and every mountain and hill shall become low,

And the rough ground shall be like a plain,

and the rugged ground like a valley-plain.

And the glory of Yahweh shall be revealed,

and all humankind together shall see it,

for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken.”

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.

Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her,

That her warfare is accomplished,

That her iniquity is pardoned:

For she hath received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.

The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord,

Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Every valley shall be exalted,

And every mountain and hill shall be made low:

And the crooked shall be made straight,

And the rough places plain:

And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,

And all flesh shall see it together:

For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.