Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord of hosts: (A)Behold, the days are coming, when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have stored up till this day, shall be carried to Babylon. Nothing shall be left, says the Lord. (B)And some of your own sons, who will come from you, whom you will father, shall be taken away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.” Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the Lord that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, (C)“There will be peace and security in my days.”

Comfort for God's People

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

(G)A voice cries:[b]
(H)“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
    (I)make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
(J)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.
(K)And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
    and all flesh shall see it together,
    (L)for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

The Word of God Stands Forever

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

The Greatness of God

Go on up to a high mountain,
    O Zion, (O)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 (P)Behold, the Lord God comes with might,
    and his arm rules for him;
(Q)behold, his reward is with him,
    and his recompense before him.
11 (R)He will tend his flock like a shepherd;
    (S)he will gather the lambs in his arms;
(T)he will carry them in his bosom,
    and gently lead those that are with young.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 40:2 Or hardship
  2. Isaiah 40:3 Or A voice of one crying
  3. Isaiah 40:6 Revocalization based on Dead Sea Scroll, Septuagint, Vulgate; Masoretic Text And someone says
  4. Isaiah 40:6 Or all its constancy
  5. Isaiah 40:9 Or O herald of good news to Zion
  6. Isaiah 40:9 Or O herald of good news to Jerusalem

Bible Gateway Recommends

ESV Journaling Bible--buffalo leather over board, deep brown
ESV Journaling Bible--buffalo leather over board, deep brown
Retail: $79.99
Our Price: $22.99
Save: $57.00 (71%)
ESV Chronological Bible (TruTone, Brown), Leather, imitation
ESV Chronological Bible (TruTone, Brown), Leather, imitation
Retail: $69.99
Our Price: $43.99
Save: $26.00 (37%)
5.0 of 5.0 stars
ESV Systematic Theology Study Bible, Hardcover
ESV Systematic Theology Study Bible, Hardcover
Retail: $39.99
Our Price: $16.99
Save: $23.00 (58%)
4.5 of 5.0 stars
ESV MacArthur Study Bible, 2nd Edition--hardcover
ESV MacArthur Study Bible, 2nd Edition--hardcover
Retail: $49.99
Our Price: $33.99
Save: $16.00 (32%)
5.0 of 5.0 stars