Isaiah 40

1 “Comfort! Yes, comfort my people,” says your God.ISV — Isaiah 40:1

2 “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her heavy service has been completed, that her penalty has been paid, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.”ISV — Isaiah 40:2

3 A voice cries out: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; and ^{a40:3 So1QIsaa; MT LXX lack and} in the desert a straight highway for our God.’ISV — Isaiah 40:3

4 Every valley will be lifted up, and every mountain and hill will be lowered; the rough ground will become level, and the mountain ridges made a plain.ISV — Isaiah 40:4

5 Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all humanity will see it at once; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”ISV — Isaiah 40:5

6 A voice says, “Cry out!” So I ^{b40:6 So 1QIsaa LXX; MT reads he} asked, “What am I to cry out?” “All humanity is grass, and all its loyalty ^{c40:6 Or glory} is like the flowers of the field.ISV — Isaiah 40:6

7 Grass withers and flowers fade away when the LORD’s breath blows on them; surely the people are like grass. ^{d40:7 So MT; 1QIsaa LXX lack this v.}ISV — Isaiah 40:7

8 Grass withers and flowers fade away, when the LORD’s breath blows on them, but the word of ^{e40:8 So MT LXX; 1QIsaa lacks the word of} our God will stand forever. “ISV — Isaiah 40:8

9 “Climb up a high mountain, you messenger of good news to Zion! Lift up your voice with strength, you messenger to Jerusalem! Lift it up! Don’t be afraid! Say to the towns of Judah, ‘Here is your God!’ISV — Isaiah 40:9

10 Look! The Lord GOD comes with strength, and his arm ^{f40:10 i.e. the Messiah} rules for him. Look! His reward is with him, and his payment accompanies him.ISV — Isaiah 40:10

11 Like a shepherd, he tends his flock. He gathers the lambs in his arms, carries them close to his heart, and gently leads the mother sheep.”ISV — Isaiah 40:11

12 “Who has measured the waters of the sea ^{g40:12 Lit. from} in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens by the width of his hand? ^{h40:12 So 1QIsaa Syr; MT LXX read by a hand’s width} Who has enclosed the dust of the earth in a measuring bowl, or weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?ISV — Isaiah 40:12

13 Who has fathomed the Spirit of the LORD, or as his counselor has taught him? ^{i40:13 i.e. the Spirit; so 1QIsaa; MT reads the LORD}ISV — Isaiah 40:13

14 With whom did he consult to enlighten and instruct him on the path of justice? Or who taught him knowledge and showed him the way of wisdom?ISV — Isaiah 40:14

15 “Look! The nations are like a drop in a bucket, and are reckoned as dust on the scales. Look! He even lifts up the islands like powder!ISV — Isaiah 40:15

16 Lebanon would not provide enough fuel, nor are its animals enough for a burnt offering. ^{j40:14b-16 So MT LXX; 1QIsaa includes these lines by a later scribe}ISV — Isaiah 40:16

17 All the nations are as nothing before him— they are reckoned by him as ^{k40:17 So 1QIsaa LXX; MT reads as less than} nothing and chaos.ISV — Isaiah 40:17

18 “To whom, then, will you compare me, ^{l40:18 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX lack me} the One who is ^{m40:18 1QIsaa LXX MT lack the One who is} God? Or to what image will you liken me? ^{n40:18 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read him}ISV — Isaiah 40:18

19 To an idol? A craftsman makes ^{o40:19 So 1QIsaa LXX; MT reads casts} the image, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and casts silver chains.ISV — Isaiah 40:19

20 To the impoverished person? He prepares ^{p40:20 1QIsaa MT LXX lack prepares} an offering— ^{q40:20 So MT; later 1QIsaa scribe includes this line} wood that won’t rot— Or to the one who chooses a skilled craftsman ^{r40:20 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read chooses wood} and ^{s40:20 So 1QIsaa; MT lacks and} seeks ^{t40:20 So 1QIsaa; MT reads seeks a skilled craftsman} to erect an idol that won’t topple?”ISV — Isaiah 40:20

21 “You know, don’t you? You have heard, haven’t you? Hasn’t it been told you from the beginning? Haven’t you understood from the foundations of the ^{u40:21 So MT; implied in 1QIsaa} earth?ISV — Isaiah 40:21

22 He’s the one who sits above the disk of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers. He’s the one who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to live in,ISV — Isaiah 40:22

23 who brings princes to nothing, and makes void the rulers of the earth.ISV — Isaiah 40:23

24 No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner have ^{v40:24 So 1QIsaa; 4QIsab MT LXX read has} their stems taken root in the earth, than ^{w40:24 So 1QIsaa; 4QIsab MT read and then; LXX lacks than} he blows on them, and they wither, and the tempest sweeps them away like stubble.ISV — Isaiah 40:24

25 “To ^{x40:25 So 1QIsaa; 4QIsab MT read And to} whom, then, will you compare me, and to whom should I be equal?” asks the Holy One.ISV — Isaiah 40:25

26 “Lift your eyes up to heaven and see who created all these— the one who leads out their vast array of stars by number, calling them all by name— because of his great might and his ^{y40:26 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX lack his} powerful strength ^{z40:26 So 1QIsaa LXX; MT reads strong} — and ^{aa40:26 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX lack and} not one is missing.”ISV — Isaiah 40:26

27 “Jacob, why do you say— and Israel, why do you complain— ‘My predicament is hidden from the LORD, and my cause is ignored by my God.’?ISV — Isaiah 40:27

28 Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard? The LORD is the eternal God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not grow tired or weary; and ^{bb40:28 So 1QIsaa LXX; the Heb. lacks and} his understanding cannot be fathomed.ISV — Isaiah 40:28

29 He’s the ^{cc40:29 So 1QIsaa; the Heb. lacks The} one who gives might to the faint, renewing strength for the powerless.ISV — Isaiah 40:29

30 Even boys grow tired and weary, and young men collapse and fall,ISV — Isaiah 40:30

31 but those who keep waiting for the LORD will renew their strength. Then ^{dd40:31 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX lack Then} they’ll soar on wings like eagles; they’ll run and not grow weary; they’ll walk and not grow tired.”ISV — Isaiah 40:31