40 ^(A)Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
^2 (B)Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
    and cry to her
that ^(C)her warfare^[a] is ended,
    that her iniquity is pardoned,
that she has received from the Lord's hand
    double for all her sins.

⁶ A voice says, “Cry!”
    And I said,^[c] “What shall I cry?”
^(J)All flesh is grass,
    and all its beauty^[d] is like the flower of the field.
⁷ The grass withers, the flower fades
    when the breath of the Lord blows on it;
    surely the people are grass.
^8 (K)The grass withers, the flower fades,
    but the word of our God will stand forever.

⁹ Go on up to a high mountain,
    O Zion, ^(L)herald of good news;^[e]
lift up your voice with strength,
    O Jerusalem, herald of good news;^[f]
    lift it up, fear not;
say to the cities of Judah,
    “Behold your God!”
^10 (M)Behold, the Lord God comes with might,
    and his arm rules for him;
^(N)behold, his reward is with him,
    and his recompense before him.
^11 (O)He will tend his flock like a shepherd;
    ^(P)he will gather the lambs in his arms;
^(Q)he will carry them in his bosom,
    and gently lead those that are with young.