40 “Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God. 2 “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem. for all her sins.” 3 Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting, for our God! 4 Fill in the valleys, and smooth out the rough places. 5 Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, The LORD has spoken!” 6 A voice said, “Shout!” as the flowers in a field. 7 The grass withers and the flowers fade And so it is with people. 8 The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.” 9 O Zion, messenger of good news, “Your God is coming!” 10 Yes, the Sovereign LORD is coming in power. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes. 11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young. 12 Who else has held the oceans in his hand? or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale? 13 Who is able to advise the Spirit of the LORD? Who knows enough to give him advice or teach him? 14 Has the LORD ever needed anyone’s advice? or show him the path of justice? 15 No, for all the nations of the world as though it were a grain of sand. 16 All the wood in Lebanon’s forests to make a burnt offering worthy of our God. 17 The nations of the world are worth nothing to him. mere emptiness and froth. 18 To whom can you compare God? What image can you find to resemble him? 19 Can he be compared to an idol formed in a mold, overlaid with gold, and decorated with silver chains? 20 Or if people are too poor for that, to carve an image that won’t fall down! 21 Haven’t you heard? Don’t you understand? Are you so ignorant? 22 God sits above the circle of the earth. and makes his tent from them. 23 He judges the great people of the world and brings them all to nothing. 24 They hardly get started, barely taking root, The wind carries them off like chaff. 25 “To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal?” asks the Holy One. 26 Look up into the heavens. not a single one is missing. 27 O Jacob, how can you say the LORD does not see your troubles? O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights? 28 Have you never heard? No one can measure the depths of his understanding. 29 He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. 30 Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. 31 But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will walk and not faint.