40"Comfort, oh comfort my people," says your God.H5162H5162H5971H559H4302"Speak softly and tenderly to Jerusalem, but also make it very clear That she has served her sentence, that her sin is taken care of—forgiven! She's been punished enough and more than enough, and now it's over and done with."H1696H3820H3389H7121H6635H4390H5771H7521H3947H3068H3027H3718H24033Thunder in the desert! "Prepare for GOD's arrival! Make the road straight and smooth, a highway fit for our God.H6963H7121H4057H6437H1870H3068H3474H6160H4546H4304Fill in the valleys, level off the hills, Smooth out the ruts, clear out the rocks.H1516H5375H2022H1389H8213H6121H4334H7406H12375Then GOD's bright glory will shine and everyone will see it. Yes. Just as GOD has said."H3519H3068H1540H1320H7200H3162H6310H3068H16966A voice says, "Shout!" I said, "What shall I shout?" "These people are nothing but grass, their love fragile as wildflowers.H6963H559H7121H559H7121H1320H2682H2617H6731H77047The grass withers, the wildflowers fade, if GOD so much as puffs on them. Aren't these people just so much grass?H2682H3001H6731H5034H7307H3068H5380H403H5971H26828True, the grass withers and the wildflowers fade, but our God's Word stands firm and forever."H2682H3001H6731H5034H1697H430H6965H57699Climb a high mountain, Zion. You're the preacher of good news. Raise your voice. Make it good and loud, Jerusalem. You're the preacher of good news. Speak loud and clear. Don't be timid! Tell the cities of Judah, "Look! Your God!"H6726H1319H5927H1364H2022H3389H1319H7311H6963H3581H7311H3372H559H5892H3063H43010Look at him! GOD, the Master, comes in power, ready to go into action. He is going to pay back his enemies and reward those who have loved him.H136H3069H935H2389H2220H4910H7939H6468H644011Like a shepherd, he will care for his flock, gathering the lambs in his arms, Hugging them as he carries them, leading the nursing ewes to good pasture.H7462H5739H7462H6908H2922H2220H5375H2436H5095H576312Who has scooped up the ocean in his two hands, or measured the sky between his thumb and little finger, Who has put all the earth's dirt in one of his baskets, weighed each mountain and hill?H4058H4325H8168H8505H8064H2239H3557H6083H776H7991H8254H2022H6425H1389H397613Who could ever have told GOD what to do or taught him his business?H8505H7307H3068H376H6098H304514What expert would he have gone to for advice, what school would he attend to learn justice? What god do you suppose might have taught him what he knows, showed him how things work?H3289H995H3925H734H4941H3925H1847H3045H1870H839415Why, the nations are but a drop in a bucket, a mere smudge on a window. Watch him sweep up the islands like so much dust off the floor!H1471H4752H1805H2803H7834H3976H5190H339H185116There aren't enough trees in Lebanon nor enough animals in those vast forests to furnish adequate fuel and offerings for his worship.H3844H369H1767H1197H2416H1767H593017All the nations add up to simply nothing before him— less than nothing is more like it. A minus.H1471H2803H657H841418So who even comes close to being like God? To whom or what can you compare him?H1819H410H1823H618619Some no-god idol? Ridiculous! It's made in a workshop, cast in bronze, Given a thin veneer of gold, and draped with silver filigree.H2796H5258H6459H6884H7554H2091H6884H3701H757720Or, perhaps someone will select a fine wood— olive wood, say—that won't rot, Then hire a woodcarver to make a no-god, giving special care to its base so it won't tip over!H5533H5534H8641H977H6086H7537H1245H2450H2796H3559H6459H413121Have you not been paying attention? Have you not been listening? Haven't you heard these stories all your life? Don't you understand the foundation of all things?H3045H8085H5046H7218H995H4146H77622God sits high above the round ball of earth. The people look like mere ants. He stretches out the skies like a canvas— yes, like a tent canvas to live under.H3427H2329H776H3427H2284H5186H8064H1852H4969H168H342723He ignores what all the princes say and do. The rulers of the earth count for nothing.H5414H7336H6213H8199H776H841424Princes and rulers don't amount to much. Like seeds barely rooted, just sprouted, They shrivel when God blows on them. Like flecks of chaff, they're gone with the wind.H5193H2232H1503H8327H776H5398H3001H5591H5375H717925"So—who is like me? Who holds a candle to me?" says The Holy.H1819H7737H559H691826Look at the night skies: Who do you think made all this? Who marches this army of stars out each night, counts them off, calls each by name —so magnificent! so powerful!— and never overlooks a single one?H5375H5869H4791H7200H1254H3318H6635H4557H7121H8034H7230H202H533H3581H376H573727Why would you ever complain, O Jacob, or, whine, Israel, saying, "GOD has lost track of me. He doesn't care what happens to me"?H559H3290H1696H3478H1870H5641H3068H4941H5674H43028Don't you know anything? Haven't you been listening? GOD doesn't come and go. God lasts. He's Creator of all you can see or imagine. He doesn't get tired out, doesn't pause to catch his breath. And he knows everything, inside and out.H3045H8085H5769H430H3068H1254H7098H776H3286H3021H2714H839429He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts.H5414H3581H3287H202H7235H610930For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in their prime stumble and fall.H5288H3286H3021H970H3782H378231But those who wait upon GOD get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, They run and don't get tired, they walk and don't lag behind.H6960H3068H2498H3581H5927H83H5404H7323H3021H3212H3286
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