Prepare the Way for Yahweh
(Matthew 3:1–12; Mark 1:1–8; Luke 3:1–20; John 1:19–28)

1  נַחֲמ֥וּ (Comfort) נַחֲמ֖וּ (comfort) עַמִּ֑י (My people),

יֹאמַ֖ר (says) אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃ (your⁺ God).

2  דַּבְּר֞וּ (Speak) עַל־ (upon) לֵ֤ב (the heart) יְרֽוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ (of Jerusalem),

וְקִרְא֣וּ (and call out) אֵלֶ֔יהָ (to her)

כִּ֤י (that) מָֽלְאָה֙ (has been fulfilled), צְבָאָ֔הּ (her service)

כִּ֥י (that) נִרְצָ֖ה (has been pardoned), עֲוֺנָ֑הּ (her iniquity)

כִּ֤י (for) לָקְחָה֙ (she has received) מִיַּ֣ד (from the hand) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH)

כִּפְלַ֖יִם (double) בְּכָל־ (for all) חַטֹּאתֶֽיהָ׃ס (her sins).

3  ק֣וֹל (The voice) קוֹרֵ֔א (of one calling)

בַּמִּדְבָּ֕ר (in the wilderness), פַּנּ֖וּ (Prepare) דֶּ֣רֶךְ (the way) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH),

יַשְּׁרוּ֙ (make straight) בָּעֲרָבָ֔ה (in the desert plain) מְסִלָּ֖ה (a highway) לֵאלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ (for our God).

4  כָּל־ (Every) גֶּיא֙ (valley) יִנָּשֵׂ֔א (will be lifted up),

וְכָל־ (and every) הַ֥ר (mountain) וְגִבְעָ֖ה (and hill) יִשְׁפָּ֑לוּ (brought low);

וְהָיָ֤ה (and will become) הֶֽעָקֹב֙ (the crooked) לְמִישׁ֔וֹר (straight),

וְהָרְכָסִ֖ים (and the rugged) לְבִקְעָֽה׃ (a plain);

5  וְנִגְלָ֖ה (and will be revealed), כְּב֣וֹד (the glory) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH)

וְרָא֤וּ (will see it) כָל־ (and all) בָּשָׂר֙ (flesh) יַחְדָּ֔ו (together);

כִּ֛י (for) פִּ֥י (the mouth) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) דִּבֵּֽר׃ס (has spoken).

The Enduring Word
(1 Peter 1:22–25)

6  ק֚וֹל (The voice) אֹמֵ֣ר (of one saying), קְרָ֔א (Call out).

וְאָמַ֖ר (And he said), מָ֣ה (What) אֶקְרָ֑א (shall I call out)?

כָּל־ (All) הַבָּשָׂ֣ר (flesh is) חָצִ֔יר (grass),

וְכָל־ (and all) חַסְדּ֖וֹ (its loveliness is) כְּצִ֥יץ (like the flower) הַשָּׂדֶֽה׃ (of the field).

7  יָבֵ֤שׁ (Withers), חָצִיר֙ (the grass) נָ֣בֵֽל (fades), צִ֔יץ (the flower)

כִּ֛י (because) ר֥וּחַ (the breath) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) נָ֣שְׁבָה (blows) בּ֑וֹ (on it)

אָכֵ֥ן (surely) חָצִ֖יר (grass) הָעָֽם׃ (the people are).

8  יָבֵ֥שׁ (Withers), חָצִ֖יר (the grass) נָ֣בֵֽל (fades), צִ֑יץ (the flower)

וּדְבַר־ (and the word) אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ (of our God) יָק֥וּם (stands) לְעוֹלָֽם׃ס (forever).

Here Is Your God!
(Romans 11:33–36)

9  עַ֣ל (Upon) הַר־ (a mountain); גָּבֹ֤הַ (high) עֲלִי־ (go up) לָךְ֙ (yourself)

מְבַשֶּׂ֣רֶת (bringing news), צִיּ֔וֹן (O Zion),

הָרִ֤ימִי (lift up) בַכֹּ֙חַ֙ (with strength); קוֹלֵ֔ךְ (your voice) מְבַשֶּׂ֖רֶת (bringing news),

יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם (to Jerusalem),

הָרִ֙ימִי֙ (lift it up),

אַל־ (do not) תִּירָ֔אִי (be afraid);

אִמְרִי֙ (Say) לְעָרֵ֣י (to the cities) יְהוּדָ֔ה (of Judah),

הִנֵּ֖ה (Behold) אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃ (your⁺ God)!

10  הִנֵּ֨ה (Behold), אֲדֹנָ֤י (the Lord) יְהוִה֙ (YHWH) בְּחָזָ֣ק (with might) יָב֔וֹא (will come)

וּזְרֹע֖וֹ (and His arm) מֹ֣שְׁלָה (will rule) ל֑וֹ (for Him)

הִנֵּ֤ה (behold), שְׂכָרוֹ֙ (His reward is) אִתּ֔וֹ (with Him)

וּפְעֻלָּת֖וֹ (and His work is) לְפָנָֽיו׃ (before His face).

11  כְּרֹעֶה֙ (Like a shepherd) עֶדְר֣וֹ (His flock) יִרְעֶ֔ה (He will pasture);

בִּזְרֹעוֹ֙ (with His arm), יְקַבֵּ֣ץ (He gathers) טְלָאִ֔ים (the lambs)

וּבְחֵיק֖וֹ (and in His bosom), יִשָּׂ֑א (He carries them)

עָל֖וֹת (the nursing ones) יְנַהֵֽל׃ס (He leads).

12  מִֽי־ (Who) מָדַ֨ד (has measured) בְּשָׁעֳל֜וֹ (in the hollow of His hand), מַ֗יִם (the waters)

וְשָׁמַ֙יִם֙ (and the heavens) בַּזֶּ֣רֶת (with a handspan), תִּכֵּ֔ן (marked off)

וְכָ֥ל (and has held) בַּשָּׁלִ֖שׁ (in a measure), עֲפַ֣ר (the dust) הָאָ֑רֶץ (of the earth)

וְשָׁקַ֤ל (and has weighed) בַּפֶּ֙לֶס֙ (on a scale), הָרִ֔ים (the mountains)

וּגְבָע֖וֹת (and the hills) בְּמֹאזְנָֽיִם׃ (in scales)?

13  מִֽי־ (Who) תִכֵּ֥ן (has directed) אֶת־ (-) ר֖וּחַ (the Spirit) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH),

וְאִ֥ישׁ (or as the man) עֲצָת֖וֹ (of His counsel) יוֹדִיעֶֽנּוּ׃ (informed Him).

14  אֶת־ (With) מִ֤י (whom) נוֹעָץ֙ (did he counsel),

וַיְבִינֵ֔הוּ (and who gave Him understanding) וַֽיְלַמְּדֵ֖הוּ (and instructed Him) בְּאֹ֣רַח (in the path) מִשְׁפָּ֑ט (of justice),

וַיְלַמְּדֵ֣הוּ (and who taught Him) דַ֔עַת (knowledge),

וְדֶ֥רֶךְ (and the way) תְּבוּנ֖וֹת (of understanding) יוֹדִיעֶֽנּוּ׃ (and informed Him)?

15  הֵ֤ן (Behold), גּוֹיִם֙ (the nations are) כְּמַ֣ר (like a drop) מִדְּלִ֔י (from a bucket),

וּכְשַׁ֥חַק (and like dust) מֹאזְנַ֖יִם (of the scales); נֶחְשָׁ֑בוּ (and they have been reckoned)

הֵ֥ן (behold), אִיִּ֖ים (the islands) כַּדַּ֥ק (like fine dust) יִטּֽוֹל׃ (He lifts up).

16  וּלְבָנ֕וֹן (And Lebanon) אֵ֥ין (is not) דֵּ֖י (sufficient) בָּעֵ֑ר (to burn),

וְחַיָּת֔וֹ (its beasts) אֵ֥ין (are not) דֵּ֖י (sufficient) עוֹלָֽה׃ס (a burnt offering).

17  כָּל־ (All) הַגּוֹיִ֖ם (the nations) כְּאַ֣יִן (are as nothing); נֶגְדּ֑וֹ (before Him)

מֵאֶ֥פֶס (even less than nothing), וָתֹ֖הוּ (and emptiness) נֶחְשְׁבוּ־ (they are counted) לֽוֹ׃ (by Him).

18  וְאֶל־ (And to) מִ֖י (whom) תְּדַמְּי֣וּן (would you⁺ liken) אֵ֑ל (God)?

וּמַה־ (And what) דְּמ֖וּת (likeness) תַּ֥עַרְכוּ (will you⁺ arrange) לֽוֹ׃ (for Him).

19  הַפֶּ֙סֶל֙ (To an idol), נָסַ֣ךְ (casts) חָרָ֔שׁ (a craftsman)

וְצֹרֵ֖ף (and a metalworker) בַּזָּהָ֣ב (with gold), יְרַקְּעֶ֑נּוּ (overlays it)

וּרְתֻק֥וֹת (and chains) כֶּ֖סֶף (of silver) צוֹרֵֽף׃ (fits with).

20  הַֽמְסֻכָּ֣ן (One bereft) תְּרוּמָ֔ה (of a contribution)

עֵ֥ץ (a tree) לֹֽא־ (not) יִרְקַ֖ב (rotten); יִבְחָ֑ר (chooses)

חָרָ֤שׁ (craftsman) חָכָם֙ (and a skillful) יְבַקֶּשׁ־ (seeks out) ל֔וֹ (for himself)

לְהָכִ֥ין (to prepare) פֶּ֖סֶל (a carved image), לֹ֥א (that not) יִמּֽוֹט׃ (will topple).

21  הֲל֤וֹא (Do not) תֵֽדְעוּ֙ (you⁺ know)?

הֲל֣וֹא (Have not) תִשְׁמָ֔עוּ (you⁺ heard)?

הֲל֛וֹא (Not) הֻגַּ֥ד (has it been declared) מֵרֹ֖אשׁ (from the beginning)? לָכֶ֑ם (To you⁺)

הֲלוֹא֙ (not) הֲבִ֣ינֹתֶ֔ם (Have you⁺ understood) מוֹסְד֖וֹת (from the foundations) הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (of the earth)?

22  הַיֹּשֵׁב֙ (He is sitting) עַל־ (above) ח֣וּג (the circle) הָאָ֔רֶץ (of the earth),

וְיֹשְׁבֶ֖יהָ (and its dwellers are) כַּחֲגָבִ֑ים (like grasshoppers);

הַנּוֹטֶ֤ה (He stretches out) כַדֹּק֙ (like a curtain), שָׁמַ֔יִם (the heavens)

וַיִּמְתָּחֵ֥ם (and He spreads them out) כָּאֹ֖הֶל (like a tent) לָשָֽׁבֶת׃ (to dwell in);

23  הַנּוֹתֵ֥ן (the One giving) רוֹזְנִ֖ים (the rulers) לְאָ֑יִן (to nothingness);

שֹׁ֥פְטֵי (the rulers) אֶ֖רֶץ (of the earth) כַּתֹּ֥הוּ (as emptiness) עָשָֽׂה׃ (He makes).

24  אַ֣ף (Yes), בַּל־ (hardly) נִטָּ֗עוּ (they are planted); אַ֚ף (yes), בַּל־ (hardly) זֹרָ֔עוּ (sown),

אַ֛ף (Yes), בַּל־ (hardly) שֹׁרֵ֥שׁ (has taken root) בָּאָ֖רֶץ (in the earth), גִּזְעָ֑ם (their stem)

וְגַם־ (and also) נָשַׁ֤ף (He will blow) בָּהֶם֙ (on them) וַיִּבָ֔שׁוּ (and they will wither),

וּסְעָרָ֖ה (and the tempest) כַּקַּ֥שׁ (like the stubble) תִּשָּׂאֵֽם׃ס (will carry them off).

25  וְאֶל־ (And to) מִ֥י (whom) תְדַמְּי֖וּנִי (will you⁺ liken Me)

וְאֶשְׁוֶ֑ה (or who is My equal)?

יֹאמַ֖ר (Says) קָדֽוֹשׁ׃ (the Holy One).

26  שְׂאוּ־ (Lift up) מָר֨וֹם (on high), עֵינֵיכֶ֤ם (your⁺ eyes)

וּרְאוּ֙ (and see) מִי־ (who) בָרָ֣א (has created) אֵ֔לֶּה (these things)

הַמּוֹצִ֥יא (the One having brought forth) בְמִסְפָּ֖ר (by number), צְבָאָ֑ם (their host)

לְכֻלָּם֙ (to them all) בְּשֵׁ֣ם (by name) יִקְרָ֔א (He calls)

מֵרֹ֤ב (by the greatness) אוֹנִים֙ (of might), וְאַמִּ֣יץ (and the strength) כֹּ֔חַ (of power);

אִ֖ישׁ (one) לֹ֥א (not) נֶעְדָּֽר׃ס (is missing).

27  לָ֤מָּה (Why) תֹאמַר֙ (do you say) יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב (O Jacob),

וּתְדַבֵּ֖ר (and speak), יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (O Israel),

נִסְתְּרָ֤ה (Is hidden) דַרְכִּי֙ (my way) מֵֽיְהוָ֔ה (from YHWH)

וּמֵאֱלֹהַ֖י (and by my God) מִשְׁפָּטִ֥י (my claim) יַעֲבֽוֹר׃ (is passed over).

28  הֲל֨וֹא (Have you not) יָדַ֜עְתָּ (known)?

אִם־ (Or) לֹ֣א (have you not) שָׁמַ֗עְתָּ (heard),

אֱלֹהֵ֨י (God), עוֹלָ֤ם׀ (everlasting) יְהוָה֙ (is YHWH),

בּוֹרֵא֙ (the Creator) קְצ֣וֹת (of the ends) הָאָ֔רֶץ (of the earth),

לֹ֥א (He does not), יִיעַ֖ף (faint) וְלֹ֣א (and not) יִיגָ֑ע (does He grow weary)?

אֵ֥ין (There is no) חֵ֖קֶר (searching out) לִתְבוּנָתֽוֹ׃ (of His understanding).

29  נֹתֵ֥ן (He gives) לַיָּעֵ֖ף (to the weary); כֹּ֑חַ (power)

וּלְאֵ֥ין (and to those with no) אוֹנִ֖ים (might) עָצְמָ֥ה (strength) יַרְבֶּֽה׃ (He increases).

30  וְיִֽעֲפ֥וּ (And will faint) נְעָרִ֖ים (the youths) וְיִגָ֑עוּ (and grow weary),

וּבַחוּרִ֖ים (and young men) כָּשׁ֥וֹל (will stumble) יִכָּשֵֽׁלוּ׃ (and fall),

31  וְקוֹיֵ֤ (and those waiting on) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) יַחֲלִ֣יפוּ (will renew) כֹ֔חַ (their strength);

יַעֲל֥וּ (they will mount up) אֵ֖בֶר (with wings) כַּנְּשָׁרִ֑ים (like eagles);

יָר֙וּצוּ֙ (they will run), וְלֹ֣א (and not) יִיגָ֔עוּ (grow weary);

יֵלְכ֖וּ (they will walk), וְלֹ֥א (and not) יִיעָֽפוּ׃פ (faint).