Isaiah 40 – search, read, and compare multiple versions of the Bible
World English Bible Classic
[1] “Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God. [2] “Speak comfortably to Jerusalem, and call out to her that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received of Yahweh’s hand double for all her sins.”
[3] The voice of one who calls out,
“Prepare the way of Yahweh in the wilderness!
Make a level highway in the desert for our God.
[4] Every valley shall be exalted,
and every mountain and hill shall be made low.
The uneven shall be made level,
and the rough places a plain.
[5] Yahweh’s glory shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together;
for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken it.” [6] The voice of one saying, “Cry out!”
One said, “What shall I cry?”
“All flesh is like grass,
and all its glory is like the flower of the field.
[7] The grass withers,
the flower fades,
because Yahweh’s breath blows on it.
Surely the people are like grass.
[8] The grass withers,
the flower fades;
but the word of our God stands forever.” [9] You who tell good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain.
You who tell good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with strength!
Lift it up! Don’t be afraid!
Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold, your God!”
[10] Behold, the Lord Yahweh will come as a mighty one,
and his arm will rule for him.
Behold, his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him.
[11] He will feed his flock like a shepherd.
He will gather the lambs in his arm,
and carry them in his bosom.
He will gently lead those who have their young. [12] Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand,
and marked off the sky with his span,
and calculated the dust of the earth in a measuring basket,
and weighed the mountains in scales,
and the hills in a balance?
[13] Who has directed Yahweh’s Spirit,
or has taught him as his counselor?
[14] Who did he take counsel with,
and who instructed him,
and taught him in the path of justice,
and taught him knowledge,
and showed him the way of understanding?
[15] Behold, the nations are like a drop in a bucket,
and are regarded as a speck of dust on a balance.
Behold, he lifts up the islands like a very little thing.
[16] Lebanon is not sufficient to burn,
nor its animals sufficient for a burnt offering.
[17] All the nations are like nothing before him.
They are regarded by him as less than nothing, and vanity. [18] To whom then will you liken God?
Or what likeness will you compare to him?
[19] A workman has cast an image,
and the goldsmith overlays it with gold,
and casts silver chains for it.
[20] He who is too impoverished for such an offering chooses a tree that will not rot.
He seeks a skillful workman to set up a carved image for him that will not be moved. [21] Haven’t you known?
Haven’t you heard?
Haven’t you been told from the beginning?
Haven’t you understood from the foundations of the earth?
[22] It 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,
[23] who brings princes to nothing,
who makes the judges of the earth meaningless.
[24] They are planted scarcely.
They are sown scarcely.
Their stock has scarcely taken root in the ground.
He merely blows on them, and they wither,
and the whirlwind takes them away as stubble. [25] “To whom then will you liken me?
Who is my equal?” says the Holy One.
[26] Lift up your eyes on high,
and see who has created these,
who brings out their army by number.
He calls them all by name.
By the greatness of his might,
and because he is strong in power,
not one is lacking. [27] Why do you say, Jacob,
and speak, Israel,
“My way is hidden from Yahweh,
and the justice due me is disregarded by my God”?
[28] Haven’t you known?
Haven’t you heard?
The everlasting God, Yahweh,
the Creator of the ends of the earth, doesn’t faint.
He isn’t weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
[29] He gives power to the weak.
He increases the strength of him who has no might.
[30] Even the youths faint and get weary,
and the young men utterly fall;
[31] but those who wait for Yahweh will renew their strength.
They will mount up with wings like eagles.
They will run, and not be weary.
They will walk, and not faint.
[3] The voice of one who calls out,
“Prepare the way of Yahweh in the wilderness!
Make a level highway in the desert for our God.
[4] Every valley shall be exalted,
and every mountain and hill shall be made low.
The uneven shall be made level,
and the rough places a plain.
[5] Yahweh’s glory shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together;
for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken it.” [6] The voice of one saying, “Cry out!”
One said, “What shall I cry?”
“All flesh is like grass,
and all its glory is like the flower of the field.
[7] The grass withers,
the flower fades,
because Yahweh’s breath blows on it.
Surely the people are like grass.
[8] The grass withers,
the flower fades;
but the word of our God stands forever.” [9] You who tell good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain.
You who tell good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with strength!
Lift it up! Don’t be afraid!
Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold, your God!”
[10] Behold, the Lord Yahweh will come as a mighty one,
and his arm will rule for him.
Behold, his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him.
[11] He will feed his flock like a shepherd.
He will gather the lambs in his arm,
and carry them in his bosom.
He will gently lead those who have their young. [12] Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand,
and marked off the sky with his span,
and calculated the dust of the earth in a measuring basket,
and weighed the mountains in scales,
and the hills in a balance?
[13] Who has directed Yahweh’s Spirit,
or has taught him as his counselor?
[14] Who did he take counsel with,
and who instructed him,
and taught him in the path of justice,
and taught him knowledge,
and showed him the way of understanding?
[15] Behold, the nations are like a drop in a bucket,
and are regarded as a speck of dust on a balance.
Behold, he lifts up the islands like a very little thing.
[16] Lebanon is not sufficient to burn,
nor its animals sufficient for a burnt offering.
[17] All the nations are like nothing before him.
They are regarded by him as less than nothing, and vanity. [18] To whom then will you liken God?
Or what likeness will you compare to him?
[19] A workman has cast an image,
and the goldsmith overlays it with gold,
and casts silver chains for it.
[20] He who is too impoverished for such an offering chooses a tree that will not rot.
He seeks a skillful workman to set up a carved image for him that will not be moved. [21] Haven’t you known?
Haven’t you heard?
Haven’t you been told from the beginning?
Haven’t you understood from the foundations of the earth?
[22] It 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,
[23] who brings princes to nothing,
who makes the judges of the earth meaningless.
[24] They are planted scarcely.
They are sown scarcely.
Their stock has scarcely taken root in the ground.
He merely blows on them, and they wither,
and the whirlwind takes them away as stubble. [25] “To whom then will you liken me?
Who is my equal?” says the Holy One.
[26] Lift up your eyes on high,
and see who has created these,
who brings out their army by number.
He calls them all by name.
By the greatness of his might,
and because he is strong in power,
not one is lacking. [27] Why do you say, Jacob,
and speak, Israel,
“My way is hidden from Yahweh,
and the justice due me is disregarded by my God”?
[28] Haven’t you known?
Haven’t you heard?
The everlasting God, Yahweh,
the Creator of the ends of the earth, doesn’t faint.
He isn’t weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
[29] He gives power to the weak.
He increases the strength of him who has no might.
[30] Even the youths faint and get weary,
and the young men utterly fall;
[31] but those who wait for Yahweh will renew their strength.
They will mount up with wings like eagles.
They will run, and not be weary.
They will walk, and not faint.
King James Version
Concerning the return to Jerusalem
[1] Comfort H5162 (PielImpv) ye, comfort H5162 (PielImpv) ye my people, H5971 saith H559 (QalImpf) your God. H430 [2] Speak H1696 (PielImpv) ye comfortably H3820§ to Jerusalem, H3389 and cry H7121 (QalImpv) unto her, that her warfare H6635§ is accomplished, H4390 (QalPerf) that her iniquity H5771 is pardoned: H7521 (NiphPerf) for she hath received H3947 (QalPerf) of the Lord’s H3068 hand H3027 double H3718 for all her sins. H2403 [3] The voice H6963 of him that crieth H7121 (QalActPtc) in the wilderness, H4057 Prepare H6437 (PielImpv) ye the way H1870 of the Lord, H3068 make straight H3474 (PielImpv) in the desert H6160 a highway H4546 for our God. H430 [4] Every valley H1516 shall be exalted, H5375 (NiphImpf) and every mountain H2022 and hill H1389 shall be made low: H8213 (QalImpf) and the crooked H6121 shall be made straight, H4334§ and the rough places H7406 plain: H1237§ [5] and the glory H3519 of the Lord H3068 shall be revealed, H1540 (NiphPerf) and all flesh H1320 shall see H7200 (QalPerf) it together: H3162 for the mouth H6310 of the Lord H3068 hath spoken H1696 (PielPerf) it. [6] The voice H6963 said, H559 (QalActPtc) Cry. H7121 (QalImpv) And he said, H559 (QalPerf) What shall I cry? H7121 (QalImpf) All flesh H1320 is grass, H2682 and all the goodliness H2617 thereof is as the flower H6731 of the field: H7704 [7] the grass H2682 withereth, H3001 (QalPerf) the flower H6731 fadeth: H5034 (QalPerf) because the spirit H7307 of the Lord H3068 bloweth H5380 (QalPerf) upon it: surely H403 the people H5971 is grass. H2682 [8] The grass H2682 withereth, H3001 (QalPerf) the flower H6731 fadeth: H5034 (QalPerf) but the word H1697 of our God H430 shall stand H6965 (QalImpf) for ever. H5769Behold your God
[9] O Zion, H6726 that bringest good tidings, H1319 (PielPtc)§ get thee up H5927 (QalImpv) into the high H1364 mountain; H2022 O Jerusalem, H3389 that bringest good tidings, H1319 (PielPtc) lift up H7311 (HiphImpv) thy voice H6963 with strength; H3581 lift it up, H7311 (HiphImpv) be not afraid; H3372 (QalImpf) say H559 (QalImpv) unto the cities H5892 of Judah, H3063 Behold your God! H430 [10] Behold, the Lord H136 God H3069 will come H935 (QalImpf) with strong H2389 hand,§ and his arm H2220 shall rule H4910 (QalActPtc) for him: behold, his reward H7939 is with him, and his work H6468 before H6440 him.§ [11] He shall feed H7462 (QalImpf) his flock H5739 like a shepherd: H7462 (QalActPtc) he shall gather H6908 (PielImpf) the lambs H2922 with his arm, H2220 and carry H5375 (QalImpf) them in his bosom, H2436 and shall gently lead H5095 (PielImpf) those that are with young. H5763 (QalActPtc)§ [12] Who hath measured H4058 (QalPerf) the waters H4325 in the hollow of his hand, H8168 and meted out H8505 (PielPerf) heaven H8064 with the span, H2239 and comprehended H3557 (QalPerf) the dust H6083 of the earth H776 in a measure, H7991§ and weighed H8254 (QalPerf) the mountains H2022 in scales, H6425 and the hills H1389 in a balance? H3976 [13] Who hath directed H8505 (PielPerf) the Spirit H7307 of the Lord, H3068 or being his counsellor H376 hath taught H3045 (HiphImpf) him? [14] With whom took he counsel, H3289 (NiphPerf) and who instructed H995 (QalImpf) him,§ and taught H3925 (PielImpf) him in the path H734 of judgment, H4941 and taught H3925 (PielImpf) him knowledge, H1847 and shewed H3045 (HiphImpf) to him the way H1870 of understanding? H8394§ [15] Behold, the nations H1471 are as a drop H4752 of a bucket, H1805 and are counted H2803 (NiphPerf) as the small dust H7834 of the balance: H3976 behold, he taketh up H5190 (QalImpf) the isles H339 as a very little thing. H1851 [16] And Lebanon H3844 is not H369 sufficient H1767 to burn, H1197 (PielInf) nor the beasts H2416 thereof sufficient H1767 for a burnt offering. H5930 [17] All nations H1471 before him are as nothing; and they are counted H2803 (NiphPerf) to him less than nothing, H657 and vanity. H8414 [18] To whom then will ye liken H1819 (PielImpf) God? H410 or what likeness H1823 will ye compare H6186 (QalImpf) unto him? [19] The workman H2796 melteth H5258 (QalPerf) a graven image, H6459 and the goldsmith H6884 (QalActPtc) spreadeth H7554 (PielImpf) it over with gold, H2091 and casteth H6884 (QalActPtc) silver H3701 chains. H7577 [20] He that is so impoverished§ H5533 (PualPtc/Ketiv) that he hath no oblation H8641 chooseth H977 (QalImpf) a tree H6086 that will not rot; H7537 (QalImpf) he seeketh H1245 (PielImpf) unto him a cunning H2450 workman H2796 to prepare H3559 (HiphInf) a graven image, H6459 that shall not be moved. H4131 (NiphImpf) [21] Have ye not known? H3045 (QalImpf) have ye not heard? H8085 (QalImpf) hath it not been told H5046 (HophPerf) you from the beginning? H7218 have ye not understood H995 (HiphPerf) from the foundations H4146 of the earth? H776 [22] It is he that sitteth§ H3427 (QalActPtc) upon the circle H2329 of the earth, H776 and the inhabitants H3427 (QalActPtc) thereof are as grasshoppers; H2284 that stretcheth out H5186 (QalActPtc) the heavens H8064 as a curtain, H1852 and spreadeth them out H4969 (QalImpf) as a tent H168 to dwell in: H3427 (QalInf) [23] that bringeth H5414 (QalActPtc) the princes H7336 (QalActPtc) to nothing; he maketh H6213 (QalPerf) the judges H8199 (QalActPtc) of the earth H776 as vanity. H8414 [24] Yea, they shall not be planted; H5193 (NiphPerf) yea, they shall not be sown: H2232 (PualPerf) yea, their stock H1503 shall not take root H8327 (PoelPerf) in the earth: H776 and he shall also blow H5398 (QalPerf) upon them, and they shall wither, H3001 (QalImpf) and the whirlwind H5591 shall take H5375 (QalImpf) them away as stubble. H7179 [25] To whom then will ye liken H1819 (PielImpf) me, or shall I be equal? H7737 (QalImpf) saith H559 (QalImpf) the Holy One. H6918 [26] Lift up H5375 (QalImpv) your eyes H5869 on high, H4791 and behold H7200 (QalImpv) who hath created H1254 (QalPerf) these things, that bringeth out H3318 (HiphPtc) their host H6635 by number: H4557 he calleth H7121 (QalImpf) them all by names H8034 by the greatness H7230 of his might, H202 for that he is strong H533 in power; H3581 not one H376 faileth. H5737 (NiphPerf) [27] Why sayest H559 (QalImpf) thou, O Jacob, H3290 and speakest, H1696 (PielImpf) O Israel, H3478 My way H1870 is hid H5641 (NiphPerf) from the Lord, H3068 and my judgment H4941 is passed over H5674 (QalImpf) from my God? H430 [28] Hast thou not known? H3045 (QalPerf) hast thou not heard, H8085 (QalPerf) that the everlasting H5769 God, H430 the Lord, H3068 the Creator H1254 (QalActPtc) of the ends H7098 of the earth, H776 fainteth H3286 (QalImpf) not, neither is weary? H3021 (QalImpf) there is no searching H2714 of his understanding. H8394 [29] He giveth H5414 (QalActPtc) power H3581 to the faint; H3287 and to them that have no might H202 he increaseth H7235 (HiphImpf) strength. H6109 [30] Even the youths H5288 shall faint H3286 (QalImpf) and be weary, H3021 (QalImpf) and the young men H970 shall utterly H3782 (QalInf) fall: H3782 (NiphImpf) [31] but they that wait H6960 (QalActPtc) upon the Lord H3068 shall renew H2498 (HiphImpf)§ their strength; H3581 they shall mount up H5927 (QalImpf) with wings H83 as eagles; H5404 they shall run, H7323 (QalImpf) and not be weary; H3021 (QalImpf) and they shall walk, H3212 (QalImpf) and not faint. H3286 (QalImpf)Footnotes
- § 40:2a Heb. to the heart
- § 40:2b Or, appointed time
- § 40:4a Or, a straight place
- § 40:4b Or, a plain place
- § 40:9 Or, O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion
- § 40:10a Or, against the strong
- § 40:10b Or, recompence for his work
- § 40:11 Or, that give suck
- § 40:12 Heb. a Tierce
- § 40:14a Heb. made him understand
- § 40:14b Heb. understandings
- § 40:20 Heb. I poor of oblation
- § 40:22 Or, him that sitteth, atc.
- § 40:31 Heb. change
Byzantine Greek New Testament
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