Isaiah 40
Expanded Bible
Israel’s Punishment Will End
40 Your God says,
“Comfort, comfort my people.
2 Speak kindly to ·the people of Jerusalem [L Jerusalem]
and tell them
that their time of ·service [or warfare] is finished,
that ·they have paid for their sins [or her sins are pardoned],
that ·the Lord has punished Jerusalem [L she has received from the Lord]
·twice [double] for every sin they did.”
3 This is the voice of one who calls out:
“Prepare in the ·desert [wilderness]
the way for the Lord.
Make a straight road in the ·dry lands [arid plain]
for our God.
4 Every valley will be ·raised up [elevated],
and every mountain and hill will be made ·flat [level; low].
The rough ground will be ·made level [smoothed out],
and the rugged ground will be made ·smooth [into a plain].
5 Then the glory of the Lord [C his manifest presence] will be ·shown [revealed],
and all ·people [flesh] together will see it.
·The Lord himself said these things [L For the mouth of the Lord has spoken].”
6 A voice says, “Cry out!”
Then I[a] said, “What shall I cry out?”
“Say all ·people [flesh] are like the grass,
and all their glory[b] is like the flowers of the field.
7 The grass ·dies [withers] and the flowers fall
when the breath of the Lord blows on them.
Surely the people are like grass.
8 The grass ·dies [withers] and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God will ·live [endure; stand] forever.”
9 ·Jerusalem [L Zion], ·you have good news to tell [herald of good news].
Go up on a high mountain.
Jerusalem, ·you have good news to tell [herald of good news].
Shout out loud the good news.
Shout it out and don’t be afraid.
Say to the towns of Judah,
“Here is your God.”
10 Look, the Lord God is coming with power
·to rule all the people [L his arm rules for him].
Look, ·he will bring reward for his people [L his reward is with him];
·he will have their payment with him [L his payment/prize is before him].
11 He ·takes care of his people [L tends his flock] like a shepherd.
He gathers them like lambs in his arms
and carries them ·close to him [on his chest/bosom].
He gently leads the mothers of the lambs.
God Is Supreme
12 Who has measured the ·oceans [L waters] in the ·palm [hollow] of his hand?
Who has used ·his hand [L a span; C the distance between the extended thumb and little finger] to measure the ·sky [heavens]?
Who has used a bowl to measure all the dust of the earth
and ·scales to weigh the mountains and [L a balance (to weigh) the] hills?
13 Who has ·known [comprehended; or directed; or measured] the ·mind [or Spirit] of the Lord
or been able to ·give him advice [instruct him as counselor; Job 38:2; Rom. 11:34]?
14 Whom did he ·ask for help [take counsel from]?
Who taught him the ·right way [path/way of justice/judgment]?
Who taught him knowledge
and showed him the way to understanding?
15 [L Look; T Behold] The nations are like one small drop in a bucket;
they are ·no more than [regarded as] the dust on his measuring scales.
·To him the islands are no more than fine dust on his scales [L He weighs/or lifts the coastlands/islands like fine dust].
16 ·All the trees in Lebanon are not enough [L Lebanon is not sufficient] for the altar fires,
and all the animals in Lebanon are not enough for burnt offerings.
17 ·Compared to the Lord [L Before him] all the nations are worth nothing;
to him they are ·less than nothing [L nothing and void/empty].
18 To whom can you compare God?
To what image can you compare him?
19 An idol is ·formed [cast] by a craftsman,
and a goldsmith ·covers [overlays] it with gold
and ·makes [forms; refines] silver chains for it.
20 A poor person cannot ·buy those expensive statues [make such an offering],
so he finds a tree that will not rot.
Then he finds a skilled craftsman
to make it into an idol that will not fall over.
21 ·Surely you [L Do you not…?] know. ·Surely you have [L Have you not…?] heard.
·Surely [L Has not…?] from the beginning someone told you.
·Surely you [L Do you not…?] understand ·how the earth was created [or from the foundations of the earth].
22 ·God sits on his throne [L He sits] above the ·circle [horizon] of the earth,
and ·compared to him, [L its] people are like grasshoppers.
He stretches out the ·skies [heavens] like a ·piece of cloth [canopy; curtain]
and spreads them out like a tent to ·sit under [or live in].
23 He makes rulers ·unimportant [nothing]
and the judges of this world ·worth nothing [insignificant; useless].
24 ·They are like plants that are placed in the ground [L Indeed, they are barely planted],
·like seeds that are planted [L indeed, they are barely sown].
·As soon as they begin to grow strong [L Indeed, they barely take root],
he blows on them and they ·die [wither],
and the ·wind [storm; whirlwind] blows them away like ·chaff [straw].
25 The Holy One [1:4], says, “To whom can you compare me?
Is anyone equal to me?”
26 Look up to the ·skies [heavens].
Who created ·all these stars [L these]?
He leads out the ·army [hosts] of heaven one by one
and calls ·all the stars [L them all] by name.
Because ·he is strong and powerful [L of his great strength and mighty power],
not one of them is missing.
27 ·People of Jacob [L Jacob], why do you complain?
·People of Israel [L Israel], why do you say,
“The Lord does not see ·what happens to me [L my way/path];
he ·does not care if I am treated fairly [disregards my cause]”?
28 ·Surely you [L Do you not…?] know.
·Surely you have [L Have you not…?] heard.
The Lord is the ·God who lives forever [everlasting God],
who created ·all [L the ends of] the ·world [earth].
He does not become tired or ·need to rest [weary].
No one can ·understand [fathom; comprehend] how great his ·wisdom [knowledge] is.
29 He gives strength to those who are tired
and more power to those who are weak.
30 Even ·children [youths; young people] become tired and ·need to rest [weary],
and young ·people [men] ·trip and fall [fall in exhaustion].
31 But the people who ·trust [hope in; wait on] the Lord will become strong again.
They will rise up ·as an eagle in the sky [L with wings like eagles];
they will run and not ·need rest [grow weary];
they will walk and not ·become tired [T faint].
Footnotes
- Isaiah 40:6 I The Dead Sea Scrolls and come Greek copies read “I.” Some Hebrew copies read “he,” meaning a second voice responds to the first.
- Isaiah 40:6 glory Some Greek copies read “glory.” Hebrew copies read “loyalty.”
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”。
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
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
Chinese Contemporary Bible Copyright © 1979, 2005, 2007, 2011 by Biblica® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
