Isaiah 40:2-31

New International Version

³ A voice of one calling:
“In the wilderness prepare
    the way^(F) for the Lord^[a];
make straight^(G) in the desert
    a highway for our God.^[b](H)
4 Every valley shall be raised up,^(I)
    every mountain and hill^(J) made low;
the rough ground shall become level,^(K)
    the rugged places a plain.
⁵ And the glory^(L) of the Lord will be revealed,
    and all people will see it together.^(M)
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”^(N)

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

“All people are like grass,^(O)
    and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
⁷ The grass withers^(P) and the flowers fall,
    because the breath^(Q) of the Lord blows^(R) on them.
    Surely the people are grass.
⁸ The grass withers and the flowers^(S) fall,
    but the word^(T) of our God endures^(U) forever.^(V)”

⁹ You who bring good news^(W) to Zion,
    go up on a high mountain.
You who bring good news to Jerusalem,^[c](X)
    lift up your voice with a shout,
lift it up, do not be afraid;
    say to the towns of Judah,
    “Here is your God!”^(Y)
10 See, the Sovereign Lord comes^(Z) with power,^(AA)
    and he rules^(AB) with a mighty arm.^(AC)
See, his reward^(AD) is with him,
    and his recompense accompanies him.
¹¹ He tends his flock like a shepherd:^(AE)
    He gathers the lambs in his arms^(AF)
and carries them close to his heart;^(AG)
    he gently leads^(AH) those that have young.^(AI)

¹² Who has measured the waters^(AJ) in the hollow of his hand,^(AK)
    or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?^(AL)
Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket,
    or weighed the mountains on the scales
    and the hills in a balance?^(AM)
13 Who can fathom the Spirit^[d](AN) of the Lord,
    or instruct the Lord as his counselor?^(AO)
14 Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him,
    and who taught him the right way?
Who was it that taught him knowledge,^(AP)
    or showed him the path of understanding?^(AQ)

¹⁵ Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket;
    they are regarded as dust on the scales;^(AR)
    he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.^(AS)
16 Lebanon^(AT) is not sufficient for altar fires,
    nor its animals^(AU) enough for burnt offerings.
¹⁷ Before him all the nations^(AV) are as nothing;^(AW)
    they are regarded by him as worthless
    and less than nothing.^(AX)

¹⁸ With whom, then, will you compare God?^(AY)
    To what image^(AZ) will you liken him?
¹⁹ As for an idol,^(BA) a metalworker casts it,
    and a goldsmith^(BB) overlays it with gold^(BC)
    and fashions silver chains for it.
²⁰ A person too poor to present such an offering
    selects wood^(BD) that will not rot;
they look for a skilled worker
    to set up an idol^(BE) that will not topple.^(BF)

²¹ Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?^(BG)
Has it not been told^(BH) you from the beginning?^(BI)
    Have you not understood^(BJ) since the earth was founded?^(BK)
22 He sits enthroned^(BL) above the circle of the earth,
    and its people are like grasshoppers.^(BM)
He stretches out the heavens^(BN) like a canopy,^(BO)
    and spreads them out like a tent^(BP) to live in.^(BQ)
23 He brings princes^(BR) to naught
    and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.^(BS)
24 No sooner are they planted,
    no sooner are they sown,
    no sooner do they take root^(BT) in the ground,
than he blows^(BU) on them and they wither,^(BV)
    and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.^(BW)

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

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”?^(CE)
28 Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?^(CF)
The Lord is the everlasting^(CG) God,
    the Creator^(CH) of the ends of the earth.^(CI)
He will not grow tired or weary,^(CJ)
    and his understanding no one can fathom.^(CK)
29 He gives strength^(CL) to the weary^(CM)
    and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men^(CN) stumble and fall;^(CO)
31 but those who hope^(CP) in the Lord
    will renew their strength.^(CQ)
They will soar on wings like eagles;^(CR)
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.^(CS)