40 “Encourage my people,” says your god. “Encourage them.

2 Speak to Yerushalem’s heart and tell her that her period of service is ended,

because the punishment for her disobedience has been accepted.

She’s received double punishment from Yahweh for all her sins.

3 A voice calls out in the wilderness[fn] to clear the path for Yahweh.[ref]

Make a straight road in the Aravah plain for our god.

4 Every valley will be filled in and every mountain and hill will be flattened,

≈ and so the slopes will be levelled and the rough places smoothed out,

5 then Yahweh’s splendour will be revealed and all people will see it simultaneously,

because that’s what Yahweh has declared.

6 A voice says, ‘Call out!’ and I ask, ‘What should I call out?’[ref]

Say that all people are like grass—

all their ‘loyal commitment’ is as temporary as a flower in the countryside.

7 The grass dries up and the flower wilts

when Yahweh’s breath blows over it.

Surely humankind is like grass.

8 The grass dries up, the flower wilts,

but the decree from our god will stand forever.

9 Go up onto a high hill you bearer of news for Tsiyyon (Zion).

≈ Raise your voice you bringer of news to Yerushalem—shout loudly and don’t be afraid.

Tell Yehudah’s cities that their god is here.

10 Look, my master Yahweh will be coming with strength,[ref]

≈ and he will be ruling with power.

Look, he’s bringing his reward

≈ and his wages are there in front of him.

11 He will tend his flock like a shepherd does.[ref]

≈ He will hold the lambs to his chest.

He will lead along the ewes who’ve just had lambs.