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Isaiah 40:1-5
New International Version
Isaiah 40:1-5
New International Version
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)
Footnotes
- 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 40:1-5
The Message
Isaiah 40:1-5
The Message
Messages of Comfort
Prepare for God’s Arrival
40 1-2 “Comfort, oh comfort my people,”
says your God.
“Speak softly and tenderly to Jerusalem,
but also make it very clear
That she has served her sentence,
that her sin is taken care of—forgiven!
She’s been punished enough and more than enough,
and now it’s over and done with.”
3-5 Thunder in the desert!
“Prepare for God’s arrival!
Make the road straight and smooth,
a highway fit for our God.
Fill in the valleys,
level off the hills,
Smooth out the ruts,
clear out the rocks.
Then God’s bright glory will shine
and everyone will see it.
Yes. Just as God has said.”
Isaiah 40:9-11
New International Version
Isaiah 40:9-11
New International Version
9 You who bring good news(A) to Zion,
go up on a high mountain.
You who bring good news to Jerusalem,[a](B)
lift up your voice with a shout,
lift it up, do not be afraid;
say to the towns of Judah,
“Here is your God!”(C)
10 See, the Sovereign Lord comes(D) with power,(E)
and he rules(F) with a mighty arm.(G)
See, his reward(H) is with him,
and his recompense accompanies him.
11 He tends his flock like a shepherd:(I)
He gathers the lambs in his arms(J)
and carries them close to his heart;(K)
he gently leads(L) those that have young.(M)
Footnotes
- Isaiah 40:9 Or Zion, bringer of good news, / go up on a high mountain. / Jerusalem, bringer of good news
Isaiah 40:9-11
The Message
Isaiah 40:9-11
The Message
9-11 Climb a high mountain, Zion.
You’re the preacher of good news.
Raise your voice. Make it good and loud, Jerusalem.
You’re the preacher of good news.
Speak loud and clear. Don’t be timid!
Tell the cities of Judah,
“Look! Your God!”
Look at him! God, the Master, comes in power,
ready to go into action.
He is going to pay back his enemies
and reward those who have loved him.
Like a shepherd, he will care for his flock,
gathering the lambs in his arms,
Hugging them as he carries them,
leading the nursing ewes to good pasture.
Isaiah 40:25-31
New International Version
Isaiah 40:25-31
New International Version
25 “To whom will you compare me?(A)
Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One.(B)
26 Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens:(C)
Who created(D) all these?
He who brings out the starry host(E) one by one
and calls forth each of them by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,(F)
not one of them is missing.(G)
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”?(H)
28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?(I)
The Lord is the everlasting(J) God,
the Creator(K) of the ends of the earth.(L)
He will not grow tired or weary,(M)
and his understanding no one can fathom.(N)
29 He gives strength(O) to the weary(P)
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men(Q) stumble and fall;(R)
31 but those who hope(S) in the Lord
will renew their strength.(T)
They will soar on wings like eagles;(U)
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.(V)
Isaiah 40:25-31
The Message
Isaiah 40:25-31
The Message
25-26 “So—who is like me?
Who holds a candle to me?” says The Holy.
Look at the night skies:
Who do you think made all this?
Who marches this army of stars out each night,
counts them off, calls each by name
—so magnificent! so powerful!—
and never overlooks a single one?
27-31 Why would you ever complain, O Jacob,
or, whine, Israel, saying,
“God has lost track of me.
He doesn’t care what happens to me”?
Don’t you know anything? Haven’t you been listening?
God doesn’t come and go. God lasts.
He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine.
He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath.
And he knows everything, inside and out.
He energizes those who get tired,
gives fresh strength to dropouts.
For even young people tire and drop out,
young folk in their prime stumble and fall.
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don’t get tired,
they walk and don’t lag behind.
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson