³ A voice of one calling:
“In the wilderness prepare
    the way^(R) for the Lord^[a];
make straight^(S) in the desert
    a highway for our God.^[b](T)
4 Every valley shall be raised up,^(U)
    every mountain and hill^(V) made low;
the rough ground shall become level,^(W)
    the rugged places a plain.
⁵ And the glory^(X) of the Lord will be revealed,
    and all people will see it together.^(Y)
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”^(Z)

⁶ A voice says, “Cry out.”
    And I said, “What shall I cry?”

“All people are like grass,^(AA)
    and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
⁷ The grass withers^(AB) and the flowers fall,
    because the breath^(AC) of the Lord blows^(AD) on them.
    Surely the people are grass.
⁸ The grass withers and the flowers^(AE) fall,
    but the word^(AF) of our God endures^(AG) forever.^(AH)”

⁹ You who bring good news^(AI) to Zion,
    go up on a high mountain.
You who bring good news to Jerusalem,^[c](AJ)
    lift up your voice with a shout,
lift it up, do not be afraid;
    say to the towns of Judah,
    “Here is your God!”^(AK)
10 See, the Sovereign Lord comes^(AL) with power,^(AM)
    and he rules^(AN) with a mighty arm.^(AO)
See, his reward^(AP) is with him,
    and his recompense accompanies him.
¹¹ He tends his flock like a shepherd:^(AQ)
    He gathers the lambs in his arms^(AR)
and carries them close to his heart;^(AS)
    he gently leads^(AT) those that have young.^(AU)

¹² Who has measured the waters^(AV) in the hollow of his hand,^(AW)
    or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?^(AX)
Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket,
    or weighed the mountains on the scales
    and the hills in a balance?^(AY)
13 Who can fathom the Spirit^[d](AZ) of the Lord,
    or instruct the Lord as his counselor?^(BA)
14 Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him,
    and who taught him the right way?
Who was it that taught him knowledge,^(BB)
    or showed him the path of understanding?^(BC)

¹⁵ Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket;
    they are regarded as dust on the scales;^(BD)
    he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.^(BE)
16 Lebanon^(BF) is not sufficient for altar fires,
    nor its animals^(BG) enough for burnt offerings.
¹⁷ Before him all the nations^(BH) are as nothing;^(BI)
    they are regarded by him as worthless
    and less than nothing.^(BJ)

¹⁸ With whom, then, will you compare God?^(BK)
    To what image^(BL) will you liken him?
¹⁹ As for an idol,^(BM) a metalworker casts it,
    and a goldsmith^(BN) overlays it with gold^(BO)
    and fashions silver chains for it.
²⁰ A person too poor to present such an offering
    selects wood^(BP) that will not rot;
they look for a skilled worker
    to set up an idol^(BQ) that will not topple.^(BR)

²¹ Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?^(BS)
Has it not been told^(BT) you from the beginning?^(BU)
    Have you not understood^(BV) since the earth was founded?^(BW)
22 He sits enthroned^(BX) above the circle of the earth,
    and its people are like grasshoppers.^(BY)
He stretches out the heavens^(BZ) like a canopy,^(CA)
    and spreads them out like a tent^(CB) to live in.^(CC)
23 He brings princes^(CD) to naught
    and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.^(CE)
24 No sooner are they planted,
    no sooner are they sown,
    no sooner do they take root^(CF) in the ground,
than he blows^(CG) on them and they wither,^(CH)
    and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.^(CI)

²⁵ “To whom will you compare me?^(CJ)
    Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One.^(CK)
26 Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens:^(CL)
    Who created^(CM) all these?
He who brings out the starry host^(CN) one by one
    and calls forth each of them by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,^(CO)
    not one of them is missing.^(CP)

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”?^(CQ)
28 Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?^(CR)
The Lord is the everlasting^(CS) God,
    the Creator^(CT) of the ends of the earth.^(CU)
He will not grow tired or weary,^(CV)
    and his understanding no one can fathom.^(CW)
29 He gives strength^(CX) to the weary^(CY)
    and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men^(CZ) stumble and fall;^(DA)
31 but those who hope^(DB) in the Lord
    will renew their strength.^(DC)
They will soar on wings like eagles;^(DD)
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.^(DE)