Izaija 40

1“Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God. 2“Speak tenderly to Jerusalem; and proclaim to her 3A voice cries out, Some older modern versions have A voice cries out in the wilderness . 4Every valley will be lifted up, and every mountain and hill will be leveled; 5and the glory of Yahweh will be revealed, and all people will see it together; for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken it. 6A voice says, “Cry.” Another answers, “What should I cry?” 7The grass withers and the flower wilts when the breath of Yahweh blows on it; surely humanity is grass. 8The grass withers, the flower wilts, but the word of our God will stand forever.” 9Go up on a high mountain, Zion, bearer of good news. Instead of Go up on a high mountain, Zion, bearer of good news , some versions have You who are bearing good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain . Instead of Jerusalem, proclaimer of good news , some versions have proclaim good news to Jerusalem . 10Look, the Lord Yahweh comes as a victorious warrior, and his strong arm rules for him. 11He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather in his arm the lambs, 12Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, measured the sky with the span of his hand, 13Who has comprehended the mind of Yahweh, or instructed him as his counselor? 14From whom did he ever receive instruction? Who taught him the correct way to do things, 15Look, the nations are like a drop in a bucket, and are regarded like the dust on the scales; 16Lebanon is not sufficient fuel, 17All the nations are insufficient before him; they are regarded by him as nothing. 18To whom then will you compare God? To what idol will you liken him? 19An idol! A craftsman casts it: The goldsmith overlays it with gold 20To make an offering one chooses a wood that will not rot; 21Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? 22He is the one who sits above the horizon of the earth; and the inhabitants are like grasshoppers before him. 23He reduces rulers to nothing and makes the rulers of the earth insignificant. 24They are barely planted, barely sown, their stem has barely taken root in the earth, 25“To whom then will you compare me, whom do I resemble?” says the Holy One. 26Look up at the sky! Who has created all these stars? 27Why do you say, Jacob, and declare, Israel, 28Have you not known? Have you not heard? 29He gives strength to the tired; and to the weak he gives renewed energy. 30Even young people become tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall: