Isaiah 40
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Prepare the Way for the Lord

(Matthew 3:1-12; Mark 1:1-8; Luke 3:1-20; John 1:19-28)

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1Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.1Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.1"Comfort, O comfort My people," says your God.1Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.1Comfort, comfort My people," says your God."
2Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins.2Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.2"Speak kindly to Jerusalem; And call out to her, that her warfare has ended, That her iniquity has been removed, That she has received of the LORD'S hand Double for all her sins."2Speak 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.2Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and announce to her that her time of forced labor is over, her iniquity has been pardoned, and she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins."
3A voice of one calling: "In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.3A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.3A voice is calling, "Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.3The 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.3A voice of one crying out: Prepare the way of the LORD in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert.
4Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.4Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a 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;4Every 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:4Every valley will be lifted up, and every mountain and hill will be leveled; the uneven ground will become smooth and the rough places, a plain.
5And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."5And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”5Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, And all flesh will see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."5And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.5And the glory of the LORD will appear, and all humanity together will see it, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

The Word of the Lord Stands Forever

(1 Peter 1:22-25)

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6A voice says, "Cry out." And I said, "What shall I cry?" "All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.6A voice says, “Cry!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.6A voice says, "Call out." Then he answered, "What shall I call out?" All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field.6The 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:6A voice was saying, "Cry out!" Another said, "What should I cry out?"" All humanity is grass, and all its goodness is like the flower of the field.
7The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass.7The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it; surely the people are grass.7The grass withers, the flower fades, When the breath of the LORD blows upon it; Surely the people are grass.7The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.7The grass withers, the flowers fade when the breath of the LORD blows on them; indeed, the people are grass.
8The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever."8The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.8The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.8The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.8The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God remains forever."

Here is Your God!

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9You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, "Here is your God!"9Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!”9Get yourself up on a high mountain, O Zion, bearer of good news, Lift up your voice mightily, O Jerusalem, bearer of good news; Lift it up, do not fear. Say to the cities of Judah, "Here is your God!"9O 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!9Zion, herald of good news, go up on a high mountain. Jerusalem, herald of good news, raise your voice loudly. Raise it, do not be afraid! Say to the cities of Judah," Here is your God!"
10See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.10Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.10Behold, the Lord GOD will come with might, With His arm ruling for Him. Behold, His reward is with Him And His recompense before Him.10Behold, 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.10See, the Lord GOD comes with strength, and His power establishes His rule. His reward is with Him, and His gifts accompany Him.
11He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.11He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.11Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs And carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.11He 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.11He protects His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them in the fold of His garment. He gently leads those that are nursing.
12Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?12Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?12Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, And marked off the heavens by the span, And calculated the dust of the earth by the measure, And weighed the mountains in a balance And the hills in a pair of scales?12Who 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?12Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand or marked off the heavens with the span of his hand? Who has gathered the dust of the earth in a measure or weighed the mountains in a balance and the hills in the scales?
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13Who can fathom the Spirit of the LORD, or instruct the LORD as his counselor?13Who has measured the Spirit of the LORD, or what man shows him his counsel?13Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, Or as His counselor has informed Him?13Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counseller hath taught him?13Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or who gave Him His counsel?
14Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge, or showed him the path of understanding?14Whom did he consult, and who made him understand? Who taught him the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding?14With whom did He consult and who gave Him understanding? And who taught Him in the path of justice and taught Him knowledge And informed Him of the way of understanding?14With 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?14Who did He consult with? Who gave Him understanding and taught Him the paths of justice? Who taught Him knowledge and showed Him the way of understanding?
15Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.15Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as the dust on the scales; behold, he takes up the coastlands like fine dust.15Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, And are regarded as a speck of dust on the scales; Behold, He lifts up the islands like fine dust.15Behold, 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.15Look, 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.
16Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires, nor its animals enough for burnt offerings.16Lebanon would not suffice for fuel, nor are its beasts enough for a burnt offering.16Even Lebanon is not enough to burn, Nor its beasts enough for a burnt offering.16And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering.16Lebanon is not enough for fuel, or its animals enough for a burnt offering.
17Before him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing.17All the nations are as nothing before him, they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness.17All the nations are as nothing before Him, They are regarded by Him as less than nothing and meaningless.17All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.17All the nations are as nothing before Him; they are considered by Him as nothingness and emptiness.
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18With whom, then, will you compare God? To what image will you liken him?18To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness compare with him?18To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare with Him?18To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?18Who will you compare God with? What likeness will you compare Him to?
19As for an idol, a metalworker casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and fashions silver chains for it.19An idol! A craftsman casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and casts for it silver chains.19As for the idol, a craftsman casts it, A goldsmith plates it with gold, And a silversmith fashions chains of silver.19The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains.19To an idol?--something that a smelter casts, and a metalworker plates with gold and makes silver welds for it?
20A person too poor to present such an offering selects wood that will not rot; they look for a skilled worker to set up an idol that will not topple.20He who is too impoverished for an offering chooses wood that will not rot; he seeks out a skillful craftsman to set up an idol that will not move.20He who is too impoverished for such an offering Selects a tree that does not rot; He seeks out for himself a skillful craftsman To prepare an idol that will not totter.20He 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.20To one who shapes a pedestal, choosing wood that does not rot? He looks for a skilled craftsman to set up an idol that will not fall over.
21Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded?21Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?21Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been declared to you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?21Have 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?21Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been declared to you from the beginning? Have you not considered the foundations of the earth?
22He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in.22It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in;22It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.22It 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:22God is enthroned above the circle of the earth; its inhabitants are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like thin cloth and spreads them out like a tent to live in.
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23He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.23who brings princes to nothing, and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness.23He it is who reduces rulers to nothing, Who makes the judges of the earth meaningless.23That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.23He reduces princes to nothing and makes judges of the earth irrational.
24No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than he blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.24Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when he blows on them, and they wither, and the tempest carries them off like stubble.24Scarcely have they been planted, Scarcely have they been sown, Scarcely has their stock taken root in the earth, But He merely blows on them, and they wither, And the storm carries them away like stubble.24Yea, 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.24They are barely planted, barely sown, their stem hardly takes root in the ground when He blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind carries them away like stubble."
25"To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One.25To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One.25"To whom then will you liken Me That I would be his equal?" says the Holy One.25To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.25Who will you compare Me to, or who is My equal?" asks the Holy One.
26Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.26Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name; by the greatness of his might and because he is strong in power, not one is missing.26Lift up your eyes on high And see who has created these stars, The One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, Not one of them is missing.26Lift 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.26Look up and see: who created these? He brings out the starry host by number; He calls all of them by name. Because of His great power and strength, not one of them is missing.
27Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God"?27Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD, and my right is disregarded by my God”?27Why do you say, O Jacob, and assert, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD, And the justice due me escapes the notice of my God "?27Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God?27Jacob, 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"?
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28Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.28Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.28Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable.28Hast 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.28Do you not know? Have you not heard? Yahweh is the everlasting God, the Creator of the whole earth. He never grows faint or weary; there is no limit to His understanding.
29He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.29He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.29He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power.29He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.29He gives strength to the weary and strengthens the powerless.
30Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;30Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted;30Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly,30Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:30Youths may faint and grow weary, and young men stumble and fall,
31but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.31but they who wait for the LORD 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.31Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.31But 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.31but those who trust in the LORD will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint."



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