Isaiah 40:6-31

6A voice says, “Call out.” Then 1he answered, “What shall I call out?” 2All flesh is grass, and all its 3loveliness is like the flower of the field.7The 4grass withers, the flower fades, 5When the 6breath of the Lord blows upon it; The people are indeed grass!8The grass withers, the flower fades, But 7the word of our God stands forever.

9Go up on a 8high mountain, Zion, messenger of 9good news, Raise your voice forcefully, Jerusalem, messenger of good news; Raise it up, do not fear. Say to the 10cities of Judah, “11Here is your God!”10Behold, the Lord 12God will come 13with might, With His 14arm ruling for Him. Behold, His 15compensation is with Him, And His reward before Him.11Like a shepherd He will 16tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs And carry them in the fold of His robe; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.

12Who has 17measured the 18waters in the hollow of His hand, And measured the heavens with a 19span, And 20calculated the dust of the earth with a measure, And weighed the mountains in a balance And the hills in a pair of scales?1321Who has 22directed the Spirit of the Lord, Or as His 23counselor has informed Him?1424With whom did He consult and who 25gave Him understanding? And who taught Him in the path of justice and taught Him knowledge, And informed Him of the way of understanding?15Behold, the 26nations are like a drop from a bucket, And are regarded as a speck of 27dust on the scales; Behold, He lifts up the 28islands like fine dust.16Even Lebanon is not enough to 29burn, Nor its 30animals enough for a burnt offering.1731All the nations are as nothing before Him, They are regarded by Him as less than nothing and 32meaningless.

1833To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare with Him?19As for the 3435idol, a craftsman casts it, A goldsmith 36plates it with gold, And a silversmith fashions chains of silver.20He who is too impoverished for such an offering Selects a 37tree that does not rot; He seeks out for himself a skillful craftsman To 38prepare 39an idol that 40will not totter.

2141Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been declared to you from the beginning? Have you not understood 42from the foundations of the earth?22It is He who 43sits above the 4445circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like 46grasshoppers, Who 47stretches out the heavens like a 48curtain And spreads them out like a 49tent to live in.23It is He who reduces 50rulers to nothing, Who 51makes the judges of the earth 52meaningless.2453Scarcely have they been planted, 54Scarcely have they been sown, 55Scarcely has their stock taken root in the earth, But He merely blows on them, and they wither, And the 56storm carries them away like stubble.25“57To whom then will you compare Me That I would be his equal?” says the Holy One.2658Raise your eyes on high And see 59who has created these stars, The 60One who brings out their 61multitude by number, He calls them all by name; Because of the 62greatness of His might and the 63strength of His power, 64Not one of them is missing.

2765Why do you say, Jacob, and you assert, Israel, “My way is 66hidden from the Lord, And the 67justice due me 68escapes the notice of 69my God”?2870Do you not know? Have you not heard? The 71Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is 72unsearchable.29He gives strength to the 73weary, And to the one who lacks might He 74increases power.30Though 75youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous 76young men stumble badly,31Yet those who 77wait for the Lord Will 78gain new strength; They will 7980mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.