Comfort for God’s People 40 Comfort, comfort ( A ) my people, says your God. 2 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. 3 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 ) 4 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. 5 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 ) 6 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. 7 The grass withers ( Q ) and the flowers fall, because the breath ( R ) of the Lord blows ( S ) on them. Surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers and the flowers ( T ) fall, but the word ( U ) of our God endures ( V ) forever. ( W ) ” 9 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 ) 10 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. 11 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 ) 12 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 ) 13 Who can fathom the Spirit [ d ] ( AO ) of the Lord , or instruct the Lord as his counselor? ( AP ) 14 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 ) 15 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 ) 16 Lebanon ( AU ) is not sufficient for altar fires, nor its animals ( AV ) enough for burnt offerings. 17 Before him all the nations ( AW ) are as nothing; ( AX ) they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing. ( AY ) 18 With whom, then, will you compare God? ( AZ ) To what image ( BA ) will you liken him? 19 As for an idol, ( BB ) a metalworker casts it, and a goldsmith ( BC ) overlays it with gold ( BD ) and fashions silver chains for it. 20 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 ) 21 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 ) 22 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 ) 23 He brings princes ( BS ) to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing. ( BT ) 24 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 ) 25 “To whom will you compare me? ( BY ) Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One. ( BZ ) 26 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 ) 27 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 ) 28 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 ) 29 He gives strength ( CM ) to the weary ( CN ) and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men ( CO ) stumble and fall; ( CP ) 31 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 ) Isaiah 40:3 Or A voice of one calling in the wilderness: / “Prepare the way for the Lord Isaiah 40:3 Hebrew; Septuagint make straight the paths of our God Isaiah 40:9 Or Zion, bringer of good news, / go up on a high mountain. / Jerusalem, bringer of good news Isaiah 40:13 Or mind Cross references Isaiah 40:1 : Isa 12:1; 49:13; 51:3, 12; 52:9; 57:18; 61:2; 66:13; Jer 31:13; Zep 3:14-17; Zec 1:17; 2Co 1:3 Isaiah 40:2 : S Ge 34:3; S Isa 35:4 Isaiah 40:2 : S Job 7:1 Isaiah 40:2 : Isa 41:11-13; 49:25 Isaiah 40:2 : S Lev 26:41 Isaiah 40:2 : Isa 51:19; 61:7; Jer 16:18; 17:18; Zec 9:12; Rev 18:6 Isaiah 40:3 : S Isa 11:16; 43:19; Mal 3:1 Isaiah 40:3 : S Pr 3:5-6 Isaiah 40:3 : Mt 3:3*; Mk 1:3*; Jn 1:23* Isaiah 40:4 : Isa 49:11 Isaiah 40:4 : S Isa 2:14 Isaiah 40:4 : S Ps 26:12; S Isa 26:7; 45:2, 13; Jer 31:9 Isaiah 40:5 : S Ex 16:7; S Nu 14:21; S Isa 59:19 Isaiah 40:5 : Isa 52:10; 62:2; Lk 2:30; 3:4-6* Isaiah 40:5 : S Isa 1:20; 58:14 Isaiah 40:6 : S Ge 6:3; S Isa 29:5 Isaiah 40:7 : S Job 8:12; S Isa 15:6 Isaiah 40:7 : S Ex 15:10; S Job 41:21 Isaiah 40:7 : S Ps 103:16; S Eze 22:21 Isaiah 40:8 : S Isa 5:24; Jas 1:10 Isaiah 40:8 : Isa 55:11; 59:21 Isaiah 40:8 : S Pr 19:21; S Isa 7:7, 9; S Jer 39:16 Isaiah 40:8 : S Ps 119:89; S Mt 5:18; 1Pe 1:24-25* Isaiah 40:9 : Isa 41:27; 44:28; 52:7-10; 61:1; Na 1:15; S Ac 13:32; Ro 10:15; 1Co 15:1-4 Isaiah 40:9 : S Isa 1:1 Isaiah 40:9 : Isa 25:9 Isaiah 40:10 : Isa 35:4; 59:20; Mt 21:5; Rev 22:7 Isaiah 40:10 : Isa 28:2 Isaiah 40:10 : Isa 9:6-7 Isaiah 40:10 : S Ps 44:3; S Isa 30:30; S 33:2 Isaiah 40:10 : S Isa 35:4; Rev 22:12 Isaiah 40:11 : S Ge 48:15; S Ps 28:9; S Mic 5:4; S Jn 10:11 Isaiah 40:11 : S Nu 11:12 Isaiah 40:11 : S Dt 26:19 Isaiah 40:11 : Isa 49:10 Isaiah 40:11 : S Ge 33:13; S Dt 30:4 Isaiah 40:12 : S Job 12:15; S 38:10 Isaiah 40:12 : Pr 30:4 Isaiah 40:12 : S Job 38:5; Heb 1:10-12 Isaiah 40:12 : S Job 38:18; Pr 16:11 Isaiah 40:13 : Isa 11:2; 42:1 Isaiah 40:13 : S Job 15:8; Ro 11:34*; 1Co 2:16* Isaiah 40:14 : Job 21:22; Col 2:3

Isaiah 40:14 : S Job 12:13; S 34:13; Isa 55:9 Isaiah 40:15 : S Ps 62:9 Isaiah 40:15 : S Dt 9:21; Isa 2:22 Isaiah 40:16 : Isa 33:9; 37:24 Isaiah 40:16 : Ps 50:9-11; Mic 6:7; Heb 10:5-9 Isaiah 40:17 : Isa 30:28 Isaiah 40:17 : S Job 12:19; Isa 29:7 Isaiah 40:17 : S Isa 37:19; Da 4:35 Isaiah 40:18 : S Ex 8:10; S 1Sa 2:2 Isaiah 40:18 : S Dt 4:15; Ac 17:29 Isaiah 40:19 : S Ex 20:4; Ps 115:4; S Isa 37:19; 42:17; Jer 2:8, 28; 10:8; 16:19; Hab 2:18; Zec 10:2 Isaiah 40:19 : Isa 41:7; 46:6; Jer 10:3 Isaiah 40:19 : Isa 2:20; 31:7 Isaiah 40:20 : Isa 44:19 Isaiah 40:20 : S 1Sa 12:21 Isaiah 40:20 : S 1Sa 5:3 Isaiah 40:21 : ver 28; 2Ki 19:25; Isa 41:22; 42:9; 44:8; 48:3, 5 Isaiah 40:21 : Ps 19:1; 50:6; Ac 14:17 Isaiah 40:21 : S Ge 1:1 Isaiah 40:21 : Ro 1:19 Isaiah 40:21 : Isa 48:13; 51:13 Isaiah 40:22 : S 2Ch 6:18; S Ps 2:4 Isaiah 40:22 : S Nu 13:33 Isaiah 40:22 : S Ge 1:1; S Isa 48:13 Isaiah 40:22 : S Ge 1:8; S Job 22:14 Isaiah 40:22 : S Job 36:29 Isaiah 40:22 : S Job 26:7 Isaiah 40:23 : S Job 12:18; S Isa 34:12 Isaiah 40:23 : S Job 12:19; Am 2:3 Isaiah 40:24 : S Job 5:3 Isaiah 40:24 : S 2Sa 22:16; S Isa 11:4; 41:16 Isaiah 40:24 : S Job 8:12; S 18:16 Isaiah 40:24 : S Job 24:24; S Isa 41:2 Isaiah 40:25 : S 1Sa 2:2; S 1Ch 16:25 Isaiah 40:25 : Isa 1:4; 37:23 Isaiah 40:26 : Isa 51:6 Isaiah 40:26 : ver 28; Ps 89:11-13; Isa 42:5; 66:2 Isaiah 40:26 : S 2Ki 17:16; S Ne 9:6; S Job 38:32 Isaiah 40:26 : S Job 9:4; S Isa 45:24; Eph 1:19 Isaiah 40:26 : S Isa 34:16 Isaiah 40:27 : S Job 6:29; S 27:2; Lk 18:7-8 Isaiah 40:28 : S ver 21 Isaiah 40:28 : S Dt 33:27; S Ps 90:2 Isaiah 40:28 : S ver 26 Isaiah 40:28 : S Isa 37:16 Isaiah 40:28 : Isa 44:12 Isaiah 40:28 : S Ps 147:5; Ro 11:33 Isaiah 40:29 : S Ge 18:14; S Ps 68:35; S 119:28 Isaiah 40:29 : Isa 50:4; 57:19; Jer 31:25 Isaiah 40:30 : Isa 9:17; Jer 6:11; 9:21 Isaiah 40:30 : S Ps 20:8; Isa 5:27 Isaiah 40:31 : S Ps 37:9; 40:1; S Isa 30:18; Lk 18:1 Isaiah 40:31 : S 1Sa 2:4; S 2Ki 6:33; S 2Co 4:16 Isaiah 40:31 : S Ex 19:4 Isaiah 40:31 : 2Co 4:1; Heb 12:1-3 Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan. More on the NIV Unleash God's Word! Bible Gateway Recommends