Isaiah 40 ISV NIV Parallel

◄ Isaiah 40 ►

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

1Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.

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."

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.

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

3A voice of one calling: "In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

4Every 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.

4Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.

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

5And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

6A 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.

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.

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

7The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass.

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

8The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever."

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!'

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!"

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

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.

11Like 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."

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.

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?

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?

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

13Who can fathom the Spirit of the LORD, or instruct the LORD as his counselor?

14With 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?

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?

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!

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.

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

16Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires, nor its animals enough for burnt offerings.

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

17Before him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing.

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

18With whom, then, will you compare God? To what image will you liken him?

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

19As for an idol, a metalworker casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and fashions silver chains for it.

20To 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?"

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.

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?

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?

22He'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,

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.

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

23He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.

24No 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.

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.

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

25"To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One.

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."

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.

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.'?

27Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God"?

28Don'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.

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.

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

29He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

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

30Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;

31but 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."

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.

New International Version (NIV)

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