Study Desk

Comfort, comfort^(a) my people, says your God.

Speak tenderly^(b) to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service^(c) has been completed,^(d) that her sin has been paid for,^(e) that she has received from the Lord 's hand double^(f) for all her sins.

A voice of one calling: "In the wilderness prepare the way^(g) for the Lord ^[a]; make straight^(h) in the desert a highway for our God.^[b](i)

Every valley shall be raised up,^(j) every mountain and hill^(k) made low; the rough ground shall become level,^(l) the rugged places a plain.

And the glory^(m) of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together.⁽ⁿ⁾ For the mouth of the Lord has spoken."^(o)

A voice says, "Cry out." And I said, "What shall I cry?" "All people are like grass,^(p) and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.

The grass withers^(q) and the flowers fall, because the breath^(r) of the Lord blows^(s) on them. Surely the people are grass.

The grass withers and the flowers^(t) fall, but the word^(u) of our God endures^(v) forever.^(w)"

You who bring good news^(x) to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem,^[c](y) lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, "Here is your God!"^(z)

See, the Sovereign Lord comes^(aa) with power,^(ab) and he rules^(ac) with a mighty arm.^(ad) See, his reward^(ae) is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.

He tends his flock like a shepherd:^(af) He gathers the lambs in his arms^(ag) and carries them close to his heart;^(ah) he gently leads^(ai) those that have young.^(aj)

Who has measured the waters^(ak) in the hollow of his hand,^(al) or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?^(am) Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?^(an)

Who can fathom the Spirit^[d](ao) of the Lord , or instruct the Lord as his counselor?^(ap)

Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge,^(aq) or showed him the path of understanding?^(ar)

Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales;^(as) he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.^(at)

Lebanon^(au) is not sufficient for altar fires, nor its animals^(av) enough for burnt offerings.

Before him all the nations^(aw) are as nothing;^(ax) they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing.^(ay)

With whom, then, will you compare God?^(az) To what image^(ba) will you liken him?

As for an idol,^(bb) a metalworker casts it, and a goldsmith^(bc) overlays it with gold^(bd) and fashions silver chains for it.

A person too poor to present such an offering selects wood^(be) that will not rot; they look for a skilled worker to set up an idol^(bf) that will not topple.^(bg)

Do you not know? Have you not heard?^(bh) Has it not been told^(bi) you from the beginning?^(bj) Have you not understood^(bk) since the earth was founded?^(bl)

He sits enthroned^(bm) above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers.^(bn) He stretches out the heavens^(bo) like a canopy,^(bp) and spreads them out like a tent^(bq) to live in.^(br)

He brings princes^(bs) to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.^(bt)

No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root^(bu) in the ground, than he blows^(bv) on them and they wither,^(bw) and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.^(bx)

"To whom will you compare me?^(by) Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One.^(bz)

Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens:^(ca) Who created^(cb) all these? He who brings out the starry host^(cc) one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength,^(cd) not one of them is missing.^(ce)

Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, "My way is hidden from the Lord ; my cause is disregarded by my God"?^(cf)

Do you not know? Have you not heard?^(cg) The Lord is the everlasting^(ch) God, the Creator^(ci) of the ends of the earth.^(cj) He will not grow tired or weary,^(ck) and his understanding no one can fathom.^(cl)

He gives strength^(cm) to the weary^(cn) and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men^(co) stumble and fall;^(cp)

but those who hope^(cq) in the Lord will renew their strength.^(cr) They will soar on wings like eagles;^(cs) they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.^(ct)