1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.2 Speak 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.3 A voice of one calling: "In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD "; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. [^2]4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."6 A 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.7 The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass.8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever."9 You 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!"10 See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.11 He 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 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?13 Who can fathom the Spirit "of the LORD, or instruct the LORD as his counselor?14 Whom 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 Surely 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.16 Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires, nor its animals enough for burnt offerings.17 Before him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing.18 With whom, then, will you compare God? To what image will you liken him?19 As for an idol, a metalworker casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and fashions silver chains for it.20 A 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 Do 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?22 He 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.23 He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.24 No 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 will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One.26 Lift 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 Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God"?28 Do 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.29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;31 but 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.

1 [Consolamini, consolamini, popule meus,dicit Deus vester.2 Loquimini ad cor Jerusalem,et advocate eam,quoniam completa est malitia ejus,dimissa est iniquitas illius :suscepit de manu Domini dupliciapro omnibus peccatis suis.3 Vox clamantis in deserto :Parate viam Domini,rectas facite in solitudine semitas Dei nostri.4 Omnis vallis exaltabitur,et omnis mons et collis humiliabitur,et erunt prava in directa,et aspera in vias planas :5 et revelabitur gloria Domini,et videbit omnis caro pariterquod os Domini locutum est.6 Vox dicentis : Clama.Et dixi : Quid clamabo ?Omnis caro fnum,et omnis gloria ejus quasi flos agri.7 Exsiccatum est fnum, et cecidit flos,quia spiritus Domini sufflavit in eo.Vere fnum est populus :8 exsiccatum est fnum, et cecidit flos ;verbum autem Domini nostri manet in ternum.9 Super montem excelsum ascende,tu qui evangelizas Sion ;exalta in fortitudine vocem tuam,qui evangelizas Jerusalem :exalta, noli timere.Dic civitatibus Juda :Ecce Deus vester :10 ecce Dominus Deus in fortitudine veniet,et brachium ejus dominabitur :ecce merces ejus cum eo,et opus illius coram illo.11 Sicut pastor gregem suum pascet,in brachio suo congregabit agnos,et in sinu suo levabit ;ftas ipse portabit.12 Quis mensus est pugillo aquas,et clos palmo ponderavit ?quis appendit tribus digitis molem terr,et liberavit in pondere montes,et colles in statera ?13 Quis adjuvit spiritum Domini ?aut quis consiliarius ejus fuit, et ostendit illi ?14 cum quo iniit consilium, et instruxit eum,et docuit eum semitam justiti,et erudivit eum scientiam,et viam prudenti ostendit illi ?15 Ecce gentes quasi stilla situl,et quasi momentum stater reputat sunt ;ecce insul quasi pulvis exiguus.16 Et Libanus non sufficiet ad succendendum,et animalia ejus non sufficient ad holocaustum.17 Omnes gentes quasi non sint, sic sunt coram eo,et quasi nihilum et inane reputat sunt ei.]18 [Cui ergo similem fecisti Deum ?aut quam imaginem ponetis ei ?19 Numquid sculptile conflavit faber ?aut aurifex auro figuravit illud,et laminis argenteis argentarius ?20 Forte lignum et imputribile elegit ;artifex sapiens quritquomodo statuat simulacrum, quod non moveatur.21 Numquid non scitis ? numquid non audistis ?numquid non annuntiatum est vobis ab initio ?numquid non intellexistis fundamenta terr ?22 Qui sedet super gyrum terr,et habitatores ejus sunt quasi locust ;qui extendit velut nihilum clos,et expandit eos sicut tabernaculum ad inhabitandum ;23 qui dat secretorum scrutatores quasi non sint,judices terr velut inane fecit.24 Et quidem neque plantatus, neque satus,neque radicatus in terra truncus eorum ;repente flavit in eos, et aruerunt,et turbo quasi stipulam auferet eos.25 Et cui assimilastis me, et adquastis ?dicit Sanctus.26 Levate in excelsum oculos vestros, et videtequis creavit hc :qui educit in numero militiam eorum,et omnes ex nomine vocat ;pr multitudine fortitudinis et roboris, virtutisque ejus,neque unum reliquum fuit.27 Quare dicis, Jacob,et loqueris, Isral :Abscondita est via mea a Domino,et a Deo meo judicium meum transivit ?28 Numquid nescis, aut non audisti ?Deus sempiternus Dominus,qui creavit terminos terr :non deficiet, neque laborabit,nec est investigatio sapienti ejus.29 Qui dat lasso virtutem,et his qui non sunt, fortitudinem et robur multiplicat.30 Deficient pueri, et laborabunt,et juvenes in infirmitate cadent ;31 qui autem sperant in Domino mutabunt fortitudinem,assument pennas sicut aquil :current et non laborabunt,ambulabunt et non deficient.]