40 ¹ Comfort, comfort my people,
says your God.
40 ² Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and cry to her that her warfare Or: time of service is ended,
that her iniquity is pardoned,
that she has received from the LORD's hand
double for all her sins.

40 ³ A voice cries:
"In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD,
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
40 ⁴ Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
40 ⁵ And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together,
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

40 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.
40 ⁷ The grass withers, the flower fades,
when the breath of the LORD blows upon it;
surely the people is grass.
40 ⁸ The grass withers, the flower fades;
but the word of our God will stand for ever.

40 ⁹ Get you up to a high mountain,
O Zion, herald of good tidings; Or: O herald of good tidings to Zion
lift up your voice with strength,
O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, Or: O herald of good tidings to Jerusalem
lift it up, fear not;
say to the cities of Judah,
"Behold your God!"
40 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.
40 ¹¹ He will feed 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.