Comfort For God's People

1 Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God.

1 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.

1 (A)Comfort, O comfort My people,” says your God.

1 “Comfort, comfort My people,”(A)says your God.

1 "Comfort! Yes, comfort my people," says your God.

2 Speak lovingly to the heart of Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is done, that her iniquity is pardoned; for she has received of Jehovah's hand double for all her sins.

2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins.

2 (B)Speak (a)kindly to Jerusalem;And call out to her, that her (b)(C)warfare has ended,That her (c)(D)iniquity has been removed,That she has received of the Lord’s hand(E)Double for all her sins.”

2 “Speak tenderly to(a) Jerusalem,and announce to herthat her time of forced labor is over,her iniquity(B) has been pardoned,(C)and she has received from the Lord’s handdouble for all her sins.”(D)

2 "Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her heavy service has been completed, that her penalty has been paid, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins."

3 The voice of him who cries in the wilderness, Prepare the way of Jehovah, make straight a highway in the desert for our God.

3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

3 (F)A voice (d)is calling,(G)Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness;Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.

3 A voice of one crying out:Prepare the way of the Lord in the wilderness;(E)make a straight highway for our God in the desert.(F)

3 A voice cries out: "In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; and in the desert a straight highway for our God.'

4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the crooked places shall be made level, and the rough places smooth;

4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:

4 “Let every valley be lifted up,And every mountain and hill be made low;And let the rough ground become a plain,And the rugged terrain a broad valley;

4 Every valley will be lifted up,and every mountain and hill will be leveled;the uneven ground will become smoothand the rough places, a plain.(G)

4 Every valley will be lifted up, and every mountain and hill will be lowered; the rough ground will become level, and the mountain ridges made a plain.

5 and the glory of Jehovah shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of Jehovah has spoken.

5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

5 (e)Then the (H)glory of the Lord will be revealed,And (I)all flesh will see it together;For the (J)mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

5 And the glory of the Lord will appear,(H)and all humanity(b) together will see it,(I)for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.(J)

5 Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all humanity will see it at once; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

The Word Of God Stands Forever

6 The voice said, Cry! And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the beauty of it is as the flower of the field.

6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:

6 A voice says, “Call out.”Then (f)he answered, “What shall I call out?”(K)All flesh is grass, and all its (g)loveliness is like the flower of the field.

6 A voice was saying, “Cry out!”Another(c) said, “What should I cry out?”“All humanity is grass,(K)and all its goodness is like the flower of the field.(L)

6 A voice says, "Cry out!" So I asked, "What am I to cry out?" "All humanity is grass, and all its loyalty is like the flowers of the field.

7 The grass withers, the flower fades, because the Spirit of Jehovah blows on it; surely the people is grass.

7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.

7 The (L)grass withers, the flower fades,(h)When the (M)breath of the Lord blows upon it;Surely the people are grass.

7 The grass withers, the flowers fadewhen the breath(d) of the Lord blows on them;(e)indeed, the people are grass.

7 Grass withers and flowers fade away when the LORD's breath blows on them; surely the people are like grass.

8 The grass withers, the flower fades; but the Word of our God shall stand forever.

8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

8 The grass withers, the flower fades,But (N)the word of our God stands forever.

8 The grass withers, the flowers fade,(M)but the word of our God remains forever.”(N)

8 Grass withers and flowers fade away, when the LORD's breath blows on them, but the word of our God will stand forever."

9 Go up for yourself on the high mountain, bringer of good tidings to Zion. Lift up your voice with strength, O you who bring good tidings to Jerusalem; lift up, do not be afraid. Say to the cities of Judah, Behold your God!

9 O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!

9 Get yourself up on a (O)high mountain,O Zion, bearer of (P)good news,Lift up your voice mightily,O Jerusalem, bearer of good news;Lift it up, do not fear.Say to the (Q)cities of Judah,(R)Here is your God!”

9 Zion, herald of good news,go up on a high mountain.(O)Jerusalem, herald of good news,(P)raise your voice loudly.Raise it, do not be afraid!Say to the cities of Judah,“Here is your God!”(Q)

9 "Climb up a high mountain, you messenger of good news to Zion! Lift up your voice with strength, you messenger to Jerusalem! Lift it up! Don't be afraid! Say to the towns of Judah, "Here is your God!'

10 Behold, the Lord Jehovah will come with a strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him; behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him.

10 Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.

10 Behold, the Lord (i)God will come (S)with might,With His (T)arm ruling for Him.Behold, His (U)reward is with HimAnd His recompense before Him.

10 See, the Lord God comes with strength,and His power establishes His rule.(R)His reward is with Him,(S)and His gifts accompany Him.

10 Look! The Lord GOD comes with strength, and his arm rules for him. Look! His reward is with him, and his payment accompanies him.

11 He shall feed His flock like a shepherd; He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those with young.

11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

11 Like a shepherd He will (V)tend His flock,In His arm He will gather the lambsAnd carry them in His bosom;He will gently lead the nursing ewes.

11 He protects His flock like a shepherd;(T)He gathers the lambs in His armsand carries them in the fold of His garment.He gently leads those that are nursing.

11 Like a shepherd, he tends his flock. He gathers the lambs in his arms, carries them close to his heart, and gently leads the mother sheep."

The Greatness Of God

12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and measured out the heavens with a span? And who has shut up the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?

12 Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?

12 Who has (W)measured the (j)waters in the hollow of His hand,And marked off the heavens by the (k)span,And (l)calculated the dust of the earth by the measure,And weighed the mountains in a balanceAnd the hills in a pair of scales?

12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his handor marked off the heavens with the span of his hand?(U)Who has gathered the dust of the earth in a measureor weighed the mountains in a balanceand the hills in the scales?

12 "Who has measured the waters of the sea in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens by the width of his hand? Who has enclosed the dust of the earth in a measuring bowl, or weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?

13 Who has directed the Spirit of Jehovah, and what man taught Him counsel?

13 Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counseller hath taught him?

13 (X)Who has (m)directed the Spirit of the Lord,Or as His (Y)counselor has informed Him?

13 Who has directed(f) the Spirit of the Lord,or who gave Him His counsel?(V)

13 Who has fathomed the Spirit of the LORD, or as his counselor has taught him?

14 With whom did He take counsel, and who instructed Him and taught Him in the path of judgment, and taught Him knowledge, and made known the way of understanding to Him?

14 With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?

14 (Z)With whom did He consult and who (AA)gave Him understanding?And who taught Him in the path of justice and taught Him knowledgeAnd informed Him of the way of understanding?

14 Who did He consult with?Who gave Him understanding(W)and taught Him the paths of justice?Who taught Him knowledgeand showed Him the way of understanding?

14 With whom did he consult to enlighten and instruct him on the path of justice? Or who taught him knowledge and showed him the way of wisdom?

15 Behold, the nations are like a drop in a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the scales; behold, He takes up the coastlands as a very little thing.

15 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.

15 Behold, the (AB)nations are like a drop from a bucket,And are regarded as a speck of (AC)dust on the scales;Behold, He lifts up the (n)islands like fine dust.

15 Look, the nations are like a drop in a bucket;they are considered as a speck of dust in the scales;He lifts up the islands like fine dust.

15 "Look! The nations are like a drop in a bucket, and are reckoned as dust on the scales. Look! He even lifts up the islands like powder!

16 And Lebanon is not enough to burn, nor the beasts of it enough for a burnt offering.

16 And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering.

16 Even Lebanon is not enough to burn,Nor its (AD)beasts enough for a burnt offering.

16 Lebanon is not enough for fuel,or its animals enough for a burnt offering.(X)

16 Lebanon would not provide enough fuel, nor are its animals enough for a burnt offering.

17 All nations before Him are as nothing; and to Him they are thought to be less than nothing, and vanity.

17 All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.

17 (AE)All the nations are as nothing before Him,They are regarded by Him as less than nothing and (o)meaningless.

17 All the nations are as nothing before Him;they are considered by Himas nothingness and emptiness.(Y)

17 All the nations are as nothing before him they are reckoned by him as nothing and chaos.

18 To whom then will you compare God? Or what likeness will you compare to Him?

18 To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?

18 (AF)To whom then will you liken God?Or what likeness will you compare with Him?

18 Who will you compare God with?What likeness will you compare Him to?(Z)

18 "To whom, then, will you compare me, the One who is God? Or to what image will you liken me?

19 The workman melts a graven image, and the goldsmith spreads it over with gold, and casts silver chains.

19 The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains.

19 As for the (p)(AG)idol, a craftsman casts it,A goldsmith (AH)plates it with gold,And a silversmith fashions chains of silver.

19 To an idol?—something that a smelter casts,and a metalworker plates with goldand makes silver welds for it?(AA)

19 To an idol? A craftsman makes the image, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and casts silver chains.

20 He too poor for that offering chooses a tree that will not rot; he looks for a skillful workman to prepare a graven image that will not totter.

20 He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved.

20 He who is too impoverished for such an offeringSelects a (AI)tree that does not rot;He seeks out for himself a skillful craftsmanTo (q)prepare (r)an idol that (AJ)will not totter.

20 To one who shapes a pedestal,choosing wood that does not rot?(g)He looks for a skilled craftsmanto set up an idol that will not fall over.(AB)

20 To the impoverished person? He prepares an offering wood that won't rot Or to the one who chooses a skilled craftsman and seeks to erect an idol that won't topple?"

21 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?

21 Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?

21 (AK)Do you not know? Have you not heard?Has it not been declared to you from the beginning?Have you not understood (AL)from the foundations of the earth?

21 Do you not know?(AC)Have you not heard?Has it not been declared to youfrom the beginning?Have you not consideredthe foundations of the earth?(AD)

21 "You know, don't you? You have heard, haven't you? Hasn't it been told you from the beginning? Haven't you understood from the foundations of the earth?

22 It is He who sits on the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in;

22 It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:

22 It is He who (s)sits above the (t)(AM)circle of the earth,And its inhabitants are like (AN)grasshoppers,Who (AO)stretches out the heavens like a (AP)curtainAnd spreads them out like a (AQ)tent to dwell in.

22 God is enthroned above the circle of the earth;its inhabitants are like grasshoppers.(AE)He stretches out the heavens like thin cloth(AF)and spreads them out like a tent to live in.(AG)

22 He's the one who sits above the disk of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers. He's the one who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to live in,

23 who brings the rulers to nothing; He makes the judges of the earth as vanity.

23 That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.

23 He it is who reduces (AR)rulers to nothing,Who (AS)makes the judges of the earth (u)meaningless.

23 He reduces princes to nothing(AH)and makes judges of the earth irrational.

23 who brings princes to nothing, and makes void the rulers of the earth.

24 Yes, they shall not be planted; yes, they shall not be sown. Yes, their stump shall not take root in the earth. And He shall also blow on them, and they shall wither, and the tempest shall take them away like stubble.

24 Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble.

24 (v)Scarcely have they been planted,(w)Scarcely have they been sown,(x)Scarcely has their stock taken root in the earth,But He merely blows on them, and they wither,And the (AT)storm carries them away like stubble.

24 They are barely planted, barely sown,their stem hardly takes root in the groundwhen He blows on them and they wither,and a whirlwind carries them away like stubble.(AI)

24 No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner have their stems taken root in the earth, than he blows on them, and they wither, and the tempest sweeps them away like stubble.

25 To whom then will you compare Me, or am I equaled? says the Holy One.

25 To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.

25 (AU)To whom then will you liken MeThat I would be his equal?” says the Holy One.

25 “Who will you compare Me to,(AJ)or who is My equal?” asks the Holy One.

25 "To whom, then, will you compare me, and to whom should I be equal?" asks the Holy One.

26 Lift up your eyes on high, and behold, who has created these, who brings out their host by number? He calls them all by names by the greatness of His might, for He is strong in power; not one is lacking.

26 Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.

26 (AV)Lift up your eyes on highAnd see (AW)who has created these stars,The (AX)One who leads forth their host by number,He calls them all by name;Because of the (AY)greatness of His might and the (y)strength of His power,(AZ)Not one of them is missing.

26 Look up(h) and see:who created(AK) these?He brings out the starry host by number;He calls all of them by name.(AL)Because of His great power and strength,not one of them is missing.

26 "Lift your eyes up to heaven and see who created all these the one who leads out their vast array of stars by number, calling them all by name because of his great might and his powerful strength and not one is missing."

27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, My way is hidden from Jehovah and my judgment has passed over from my God?

27 Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God?

27 (BA)Why do you say, O Jacob, and assert, O Israel,“My way is (BB)hidden from the Lord,And the (BC)justice due me (z)escapes the notice of (BD)my God”?

27 Jacob, why do you say,and Israel, why do you assert:“My way is hidden from the Lord,and my claim is ignored by my God”?(AM)

27 "Jacob, why do you say and Israel, why do you complain "My predicament is hidden from the LORD, and my cause is ignored by my God.'?

28 Have you not known? Have you not heard, that the everlasting God, Jehovah, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not grow weak nor weary? There is no searching of His understanding.

28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

28 (BE)Do you not know? Have you not heard?The (BF)Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earthDoes not become weary or tired.His understanding is (BG)inscrutable.

28 Do you not know?Have you not heard?Yahweh is the everlasting God,(AN)the Creator of the whole earth.He never grows faint or weary;there is no limit to His understanding.(AO)

28 Don't you know? Haven't you heard? The LORD is the eternal God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not grow tired or weary; and his understanding cannot be fathomed.

29 He gives power to the weary; and to him with no vigor; He increases strength.

29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

29 He gives strength to the (BH)weary,And to him who lacks might He (BI)increases power.

29 He gives strength to the wearyand strengthens the powerless.

29 He's the one who gives might to the faint, renewing strength for the powerless.

30 Even the young shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall;

30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

30 Though (BJ)youths grow weary and tired,And vigorous (BK)young men stumble badly,

30 Youths may faint and grow weary,and young men stumble and fall,

30 Even boys grow tired and weary, and young men collapse and fall,

31 but those who wait on Jehovah shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

31 Yet those who (aa)wait for the LordWill (BL)gain new strength;They will (ab)(BM)mount up with (ac)wings like eagles,They will run and not get tired,They will walk and not become weary.

31 but those who trust in the Lordwill renew their strength;(AP)they will soar on wings like eagles;(AQ)they will run and not grow weary;they will walk and not faint.

31 but those who keep waiting for the LORD will renew their strength. Then they'll soar on wings like eagles; they'll run and not grow weary; they'll walk and not grow tired."

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