Isaiah 40:1-3

New Century Version

40 Your God says,
“Comfort, comfort my people.
² Speak kindly to the people of Jerusalem
    and tell them
that their time of service is finished,
    that they have paid for their sins,
that the Lord has punished Jerusalem
    twice for every sin they did.”
³ This is the voice of one who calls out:
“Prepare in the desert
    the way for the Lord.
Make a straight road in the dry lands
    for our God.