The glorious news – redemption is nigh

40 ‘Comfort you, comfort my people,’

declares your God.

2 ‘Speak home to the heart of Jerusalem,

cry unto her

that her time of sore service is over,

her guilt is discharged;

for her sins she has doubly atoned

at the hand of the Lord.’

3 Hark! Says a voice, ‘In the wilderness

clear you a way for the Lord;

make you straight in the desert

a highway for our God.

4 Let every valley be raised,

every mountain and hill brought low;

let the steep rugged ground become level,

the rough rocky ridges a plain.

5 Then the Lord will show forth his glory,

and all fresh will see it together:

the mouth of the Lord has spoken it.’

6 Hark! Says a voice, ‘Proclaim.’

‘What should I proclaim?’ said I.

‘Proclaim that all flesh is grass,

all its grace as the flower of the field.

7 The grass withers, the flower fades,

when upon it the breath of the Lord has blown.

8 Yea, the grass withers, the flower fades;

but the word of our God will stand for ever.’

9 Get you up to a mountain high,

you who tell good tidings to Zion;

lift up your voice with strength,

you who bring good news to Jerusalem;

lift it up, be not afraid.

Say to the cities of Judah,

‘Yonder comes your God.’

10 See! The Lord is coming in might,

with an arm that ensures his dominion.

Behold, his reward is with him,

his recompense is before him.

11 He feeds his flock like a shepherd,

he gathered it with his arm;

he carries the lambs in his bosom,

and those who give suck he leads.