1. Your God says,“Comfort, comfort my people.
2. Speak kindly to the people of Jerusalem.Tell themthat their time of service is finished.Tell them that they have paid for their sins.Tell them that the Lord has punished Jerusalemtwice for every sin they did.”
3. This is the voice of a man who calls out:“Prepare in the desertthe way for the Lord.Make the road in the dry landsstraight for our God.
4. Every valley should be raised up.Every mountain and hill should be made flat.The rough ground should be made level.The rugged ground should be made smooth.
5. Then the glory of the Lord will be shown.All people together will see it.The Lord himself said these things.”
6. A voice says, “Cry out!”Then I said, “What shall I cry out?”“Say all people are like the grass.And all their strength is like the flowers of the field.
7. The grass dies, and the flowers fall.This is because the breath of the Lord blows on them.Surely the people are like grass.
8. The grass dies, and the flowers fall.But the word of our God will live forever.”
9. Jerusalem, you have good news to tell.Go up on a high mountain.Jerusalem, you have good news to tell.Shout out loud the good news.Shout it out and don’t be afraid.Say to the towns of Judah,“Here is your God.”