1. Your God says, “Comfort, comfort my people.
2. Speak kindly to Jerusalem and tell her, ‘Your time of service is finished. You have paid the price for your sins.’ I, the Lord, have punished you twice for every sin you committed.”
3. Listen, there is someone shouting: “Prepare a way in the desert for the Lord. Make a straight road there for our God.
4. Every valley must be filled. Every mountain and hill should be made flat. The crooked roads should be made straight, and the rough ground made smooth.
5. Then the Glory of the Lord will be shown to everyone. Together, all people will see it. Yes, this is what the Lord himself said!”
6. A voice said, “Speak!” So the man said, “What should I say?” The voice said, “People are like grass. Any glory they enjoy is like a wildflower.
7. When a wind from the Lord blows on them, the grass dies and the flower falls. Yes, all people are like grass.
8. Grass dies and flowers fall, but the word of our God lasts forever.”
9. Zion, you have good news to tell. Go up on a high mountain and shout the good news. Jerusalem, you have good news to tell. Don’t be afraid; speak loudly. Tell this news to all the cities of Judah: “Look, here is your God!”