³ A voice cries out:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
    make straight in the desert a highway for our God.^(C)
4 Every valley shall be lifted up,
    and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
    and the rough places a plain.^(D)
5 Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
    and all flesh shall see it together,
    for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

⁶ A voice says, “Cry out!”
    And I said,^[a] “What shall I cry?”
All flesh is grass;
    their constancy is like the flower of the field.^(E)
7 The grass withers; the flower fades,
    [[when the breath of the Lord blows upon it;
    surely the people are grass.^(F)
8 The grass withers; the flower fades,]]^[b]
    but the word of our God will stand forever.^(G)
9 Get you up to a high mountain,
    O Zion, herald of good news;^[c]
lift up your voice with strength,
    O Jerusalem, herald of good news;^[d]
    lift it up, do not fear;
say to the cities of Judah,
    “Here is your God!”^(H)
10 See, the Lord God comes with might,
    and his arm rules for him;
his reward is with him
    and his recompense before him.^(I)
11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd;
    he will gather the lambs in his arms
and carry them in his bosom
    and gently lead the mother sheep.^(J)