Isaiah 40
King James Version
40 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins.
3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:
7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.
8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
9 O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!
10 Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
12 Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?
13 Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being his counsellor hath taught him?
14 With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?
15 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.
16 And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering.
17 All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.
18 To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?
19 The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains.
20 He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved.
21 Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?
22 It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:
23 That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.
24 Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble.
25 To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.
26 Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.
27 Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my God?
28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40
New King James Version
God’s People Are Comforted(A)
40 “Comfort, yes, comfort My people!”
Says your God.
2 “Speak [a]comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her,
That her warfare is ended,
That her iniquity is pardoned;
(B)For she has received from the Lord’s hand
Double for all her sins.”
3 (C)The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
(D)“Prepare the way of the Lord;
(E)Make straight [b]in the desert
A highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be exalted
And every mountain and hill brought low;
(F)The crooked places shall be made [c]straight
And the rough places smooth;
5 The (G)glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
And all flesh shall see it together;
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
6 The voice said, “Cry out!”
And [d]he said, “What shall I cry?”
(H)“All flesh is grass,
And all its loveliness is like the flower of the field.
7 The grass withers, the flower fades,
Because the breath of the Lord blows upon it;
Surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers, the flower fades,
But (I)the word of our God stands forever.”
9 O Zion,
You who bring good tidings,
Get up into the high mountain;
O Jerusalem,
You who bring good tidings,
Lift up your voice with strength,
Lift it up, be not afraid;
Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!”
10 Behold, the Lord God shall come [e]with a strong hand,
And (J)His arm shall rule for Him;
Behold, (K)His reward is with Him,
And His [f]work before Him.
11 He will (L)feed His flock like a shepherd;
He will gather the lambs with His arm,
And carry them in His bosom,
And gently lead those who are with young.
12 (M)Who has measured the [g]waters in the hollow of His hand,
Measured heaven with a [h]span
And calculated the dust of the earth in a measure?
Weighed the mountains in scales
And the hills in a balance?
13 (N)Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord,
Or as His counselor has taught Him?
14 With whom did He take counsel, and who instructed Him,
And (O)taught Him in the path of justice?
Who taught Him knowledge,
And showed Him the way of understanding?
15 Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket,
And are counted as the small dust on the scales;
Look, He lifts up the isles as a very little thing.
16 And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn,
Nor its beasts sufficient for a burnt offering.
17 All nations before Him are as (P)nothing,
And (Q)they are counted by Him less than nothing and worthless.
18 To whom then will you (R)liken God?
Or what likeness will you compare to Him?
19 (S)The workman molds an image,
The goldsmith overspreads it with gold,
And the silversmith casts silver chains.
20 Whoever is too impoverished for such [i]a contribution
Chooses a tree that will not rot;
He seeks for himself a skillful workman
(T)To prepare a carved image that will not totter.
21 (U)Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
22 It is He who sits above the circle of the earth,
And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers,
Who (V)stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
And spreads them out like a (W)tent to dwell in.
23 He [j]brings the (X)princes to nothing;
He makes the judges of the earth useless.
24 Scarcely shall they be planted,
Scarcely shall they be sown,
Scarcely shall their stock take root in the earth,
When He will also blow on them,
And they will wither,
And the whirlwind will take them away like stubble.
25 “To(Y) whom then will you liken Me,
Or to whom shall I be equal?” says the Holy One.
26 Lift up your eyes on high,
And see who has created these things,
Who brings out their host by number;
(Z)He calls them all by name,
By the greatness of His might
And the strength of His power;
Not one is missing.
27 (AA)Why do you say, O Jacob,
And speak, O Israel:
“My way is hidden from the Lord,
And my just claim is passed over by my God”?
28 Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
(AB)His understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
31 But those who (AC)wait on the Lord
(AD)Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
Footnotes
- Isaiah 40:2 Lit. to the heart of
- Isaiah 40:3 So with MT, Tg., Vg.; LXX omits in the desert
- Isaiah 40:4 Or a plain
- Isaiah 40:6 So with MT, Tg.; DSS, LXX, Vg. I
- Isaiah 40:10 in strength
- Isaiah 40:10 recompense
- Isaiah 40:12 So with MT, LXX, Vg.; DSS adds of the sea; Tg. adds of the world
- Isaiah 40:12 A span .5 cubit, 9 inches; or the width of His hand
- Isaiah 40:20 an offering
- Isaiah 40:23 reduces
Isaiah 40
1599 Geneva Bible
40 2 Remission of sins by Christ. 3 The coming of John Baptist. 18 The Prophet reproveth the Idolaters, and them that trust not in the Lord.
1 Comfort [a]ye, comfort ye my people, will your God say.
2 Speak comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her [b]warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned; for she hath received of the Lord’s hand [c]double for all her sins.
3 A [d]voice crieth in the [e]wilderness, [f]Prepare ye the way of the Lord: make straight in the desert a path for our God.
4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every [g]mountain and hill shall be made low; and the crooked shall be straight, and the rough places plain.
5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all [h]flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
6 A [i]voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the [j]grace thereof is as the flowers of the field.
7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, because the [k]Spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.
8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the [l]word of our God shall stand forever.
9 ¶ O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high [m]mountain: O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength: lift it up, be not afraid: say unto the cities of Judah, Behold [n]your God.
10 Behold, the Lord God will come with power, and [o]his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall guide them with [p]young.
12 Who hath measured the waters in his [q]fist? and counted heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure? and weighed the mountains in a weight, and the hills in a balance?
13 Who hath instructed the spirit of the Lord? or was [r]his counselor, or taught him?
14 Of whom took the counsel, and who instructed him and taught him in the way of judgment? or taught him knowledge, and showed unto him the way of understanding?
15 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the dust of the balance: behold, he taketh away the isles as a little dust.
16 And Lebanon is not sufficient for fire, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering.
17 All nations before him are as [s]nothing, and they are counted to him, less than nothing, and vanity.
18 To whom then [t]will ye liken God? or what similitude will ye set up unto him?
19 The workman melteth an image, or the goldsmith beateth it out in gold, or the goldsmith maketh silver plates.
20 Doth not [u]the poor choose out a tree that will not rot, for an oblation? he seeketh also unto him a cunning workman, to prepare an image that shall not be moved.
21 Know ye nothing? have ye not heard [v]it? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood it by the [w]foundation of the earth?
22 He sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers, he stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out, as a tent to dwell in.
23 He bringeth the princes to nothing, and maketh the judges of the earth, as vanity,
24 As though they were not planted, as though they were not sown, as though their stock took no root in the earth: for he did even [x]blow upon them, and they withered, and the whirlwind will take them away as stubble.
25 To whom now will ye liken me, that I should be like him, saith the Holy one?
26 Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, and bringeth [y]out their armies by number, and calleth them all by names: by the greatness of his power and mighty strength nothing faileth.
27 Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest O Israel, [z]My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over of my God?
28 Knowest thou not? or hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord hath created the [aa]ends of the earth? he neither fainteth, nor is weary: there is no searching of his [ab]understanding.
29 But he giveth strength unto him that fainteth, and unto him that hath no strength, he increaseth power.
30 [ac]Even the young men shall faint, and be weary, and the young men shall stumble and fall.
31 But they that wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength: they shall lift up the wings, as the eagles: they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint.
Footnotes
- Isaiah 40:1 This is a consolation for the Church, assuring them, that they shall be never destitute of Prophets whereby he exhorteth the true ministers of God that then were, and those also that should come after him, to comfort the poor afflicted, and to assure them of their deliverance both of body and soul.
- Isaiah 40:2 The time of her affliction.
- Isaiah 40:2 Meaning, sufficient, as Isa. 61:7, and full correction, or double grace, whereas she deserved double punishment.
- Isaiah 40:3 To wit, of the Prophets.
- Isaiah 40:3 That is, in Babylon and other places, where they were kept in captivity, and misery.
- Isaiah 40:3 Meaning Cyrus and Darius which should deliver God’s people out of captivity, and make them a ready way to Jerusalem: and this was fully accomplished, when John the Baptist brought tidings of Jesus Christ’s coming, who was the true deliverer of his Church from sin and Satan, Matt. 3:3.
- Isaiah 40:4 Whatsoever may let or hinder this deliverance, shall be removed.
- Isaiah 40:5 This miracle shall be so great, that it shall be known through all the world.
- Isaiah 40:6 The voice of God which spake to the Prophet Isaiah.
- Isaiah 40:6 Meaning, all man’s wisdom and natural powers, James 1:10; 1 Pet. 1:24.
- Isaiah 40:7 The spirit of God shall discover the vanity in all that seem to have any excellency of themselves.
- Isaiah 40:8 Though considering the frailty of man’s nature many of the Jews should perish, and so not be partakers of this deliverance, yet God’s promise should be fulfilled, and they that remained, should feel the fruit thereof.
- Isaiah 40:9 To publish this benefit through all the world.
- Isaiah 40:9 He showeth at one word the perfection of all man’s felicity, which is to have God’s presence.
- Isaiah 40:10 His power shall be sufficient without help of any other, and shall have all means in himself to bring his will to pass.
- Isaiah 40:11 He shall show his care and favor over them that are weak and tender.
- Isaiah 40:12 Declaring that as God only hath all power, so doth he use the same for the defense and maintenance of his Church.
- Isaiah 40:13 He showeth God’s infinite wisdom for the same.
- Isaiah 40:17 He speaketh all this to the intent that they should neither fear man nor put their trust in any, save only in God.
- Isaiah 40:18 Hereby he armeth them against the idolatry, wherewith they should be tempted in Babylon.
- Isaiah 40:20 He showeth the rage of the idolaters, seeing that the poor that have not to suffice their own necessities, will defraud themselves to serve their idols.
- Isaiah 40:21 Have ye not the word of God, which plainly condemneth idolatry?
- Isaiah 40:21 Can you not learn by the visible creatures whom God hath made to observe your use, that you should not serve them nor worship them?
- Isaiah 40:24 So that his power appeareth in every place wheresoever we turn our eyes.
- Isaiah 40:26 Who hath set in order the infinite number of the stars.
- Isaiah 40:27 He rebuketh the Jews, because they did not rest on the providence of God, but thought that he had forsaken them in their troubles.
- Isaiah 40:28 And therefore all power is in his hand to deliver when his time cometh.
- Isaiah 40:28 Showing that men must patiently abide, and not curiously seek out the cause of God’s delay in our afflictions.
- Isaiah 40:30 They that trust in their own virtue, and do not acknowledge that all cometh of God.
以赛亚书 40
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
上帝对祂子民的安慰
40 你们的上帝说：
“你们要安慰我的子民。
2 要温柔地告诉耶路撒冷，
她的苦难已经结束，
她的罪恶已经被除去。
她因自己的一切罪已受到耶和华加倍的惩罚[a]。”
3 听啊，有人高喊：
“在旷野预备耶和华的道，
在沙漠修直我们上帝的路。
4 一切山谷将被填满，
大山小丘将被削平；
坎坷之地将变得平坦，
崎岖的地面将成为平原。
5 耶和华的荣耀必彰显，
世人必一同看见。
这是耶和华亲口说的。”
6 有声音说：“呼喊吧！”
我问道：“我呼喊什么呢？”
那声音说：“芸芸众生尽如草，
荣华富贵像野地的花。
7 耶和华吹一口气，
草就枯干，花也凋残。
人类诚然像草。
8 草必枯干，花必凋残，
唯有我们上帝的话永远长存。”
9 向锡安报告好消息的人啊，
要登上高山！
向耶路撒冷报告好消息的人啊，
要大声宣告！
要提高声音，不要惧怕！
要高声对犹大的城邑说：
“你们的上帝来了！”
10 看啊，主耶和华带着能力来了，
祂的臂膀执掌王权；
祂带着赏赐而来，
要酬劳祂的子民。
11 祂像牧人一样牧养自己的羊群，
用臂膀把羊羔聚在一起，
抱在怀中，
温柔地引导母羊。
12 谁曾用手心量海水？
谁曾用手掌度苍天？
谁曾用升斗盛大地的尘土？
谁曾用秤称高山，用天平称丘陵？
13 谁曾测度耶和华的心？
谁曾做祂的谋士指点祂？
14 祂请教过谁？
谁教过祂正道？
谁教过祂知识？
谁指点过祂领悟之道？
15 看啊，列国就像水桶中的一滴水，
又如天平上的尘埃。
祂举起众海岛，好像捧起微尘。
16 黎巴嫩的树木不够作献祭的燃料，
林中的走兽也不够作燔祭。
17 万国在祂面前都算不得什么，
在祂看来不过是虚无。
18 你们拿谁与上帝相比呢？
你们用什么形象比作上帝呢？
19 偶像是工匠制造的，
银匠替它包上金子、打造银链。
20 买不起这种偶像的人就选一块耐用的木头，
找个精巧的工匠，
雕出一个可以站立不倒的偶像。
21 难道你们不知道吗？
难道你们没有听过吗？
难道不是从起初就告诉过你们吗？
难道从大地奠立根基以来，
你们一直没有明白吗？
22 上帝的宝座设立在大地的圆圈之上，
地上的人类好像蚱蜢。
祂铺展诸天，就像铺展幔子、铺展人居住的帐篷。
23 祂使掌权者归于无有，
使世上的审判官化为虚无。
24 他们像草一样刚被栽上，
刚被种上，
刚在土里扎根，
上帝一口气吹来，便都枯干了，
暴风将他们像禾秸一样吹去。
25 那位圣者说：“你们拿谁与我相比，
使之与我同等呢？”
26 你们向天举目，
看看是谁创造了这万象？
是谁把众星一一领出来，
给它们取名？
祂的权柄和能力极大无比，
它们一个也不会少。
27 雅各啊，你怎能说耶和华看不见你的遭遇呢？
以色列啊，你怎能说上帝并不顾念你的冤情呢？
28 难道你不知道？
难道你没有听见过？
永恒的上帝耶和华——创造地极的主宰不会疲乏也不会困倦，
祂的智慧深不可测。
29 祂赐疲乏的人能力，
给软弱的人力量。
30 即使青年也会疲乏困倦，
强壮的人也会踉跄跌倒；
31 但仰望耶和华的人必重新得力。
他们必像鹰一样展翅高飞，
他们奔跑也不困倦，
他们行走也不疲乏。
Footnotes
- 40:2 “她因自己的一切罪已受到耶和华加倍的惩罚”或译“她的一切罪已得到耶和华双倍的赦免”。
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
Chinese Contemporary Bible Copyright © 1979, 2005, 2007, 2011 by Biblica® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.