Isaiah 40

All 31 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.

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  1. 1"Comfort, comfort my people," says your God.
  2. 2"Speak tenderly to Jerusalem. Announce to her that her time of hard service is over, that her sin has been paid for — the LORD has punished her double for everything she did wrong."
  3. 3A voice cries in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the LORD; make a straight highway in the desert for our God.
  4. 4Every valley will be raised up, and every mountain and hill will be made low. The crooked will be made straight, and the rough places will become smooth.
  5. 5Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all flesh will see it together, because the mouth of the LORD has spoken it.
  6. 6A voice said, "Cry out!" He asked, "What should I cry?" "All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field."
  7. 7The grass withers and the flower fades because the spirit of the LORD blows upon it. Surely, the people are grass.
  8. 8The grass dries up and the flower wilts, but the word of our God stands forever."
  9. 9You who bring good news to Zion, climb to the top of a high mountain! You who bring good news to Jerusalem, shout it out with all your strength! Shout it and don't be afraid! Tell the cities of Judah, "Look — here is your God!"
  10. 10Look! The Lord GOD is coming with power, and his strong arm will rule for him. He brings his reward with him, and his work is before him.
  11. 11He will feed his flock like a shepherd: he will gather the lambs with his arm and carry them in his bosom, and will gently lead those that are with young.
  12. 12Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and marked off the heavens with a span, and measured the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?
  13. 13Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or as his counselor has taught him?
  14. 14Who did he consult for guidance? Who showed him the right way to do things, or taught him knowledge, or revealed to him the path of understanding?
  15. 15Look, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are counted as the small dust on the scales. Look, he takes up the islands as a very little thing.
  16. 16And Lebanon is not enough to burn, nor are its animals enough for a burnt offering.
  17. 17Every nation on earth amounts to nothing in his presence. To him, they count for less than nothing — they are completely meaningless.
  18. 18So who could you possibly compare God to? What image could you set alongside him?
  19. 19A craftsman pours a metal idol, then a goldsmith coats it with gold and attaches silver chains to it.
  20. 20Someone too poor for that picks out a piece of wood that won't rot, then finds a skilled craftsman to carve an idol that won't topple over.
  21. 21Don't you know this? Haven't you heard? Hasn't this been explained to you from the very beginning? Haven't you understood it since the earth was made?
  22. 22He sits above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a curtain and spreads them out like a tent to live in.
  23. 23He reduces powerful rulers to nothing and makes the judges of the earth meaningless.
  24. 24They are barely planted, barely sown, barely taking root in the ground — and then he blows on them and they wither. A whirlwind sweeps them away like straw.
  25. 25"So who will you compare me to? Who is my equal?" says the Holy One.
  26. 26Lift up your eyes on high and see who created these things. He brings out their host by number, calling each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one is missing.
  27. 27Why do you say, Jacob, and complain, Israel, 'My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God'?
  28. 28Don't you know? Haven't you heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He never gets tired or weary, and his understanding cannot be searched.
  29. 29He gives power to the faint and increases strength for those who have no might.
  30. 30Even young people will faint and grow weary, and young men will completely fall.
  31. 31But those who wait on 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 faint.