¶A voice of one is calling out,
“Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness [remove the obstacles];
Make straight and smooth in the desert a highway for our God. [Mark 1:3]
“Every valley shall be raised,
And every mountain and hill be made low;
And let the rough ground become a plain,
And the rugged places a broad valley.
“And the glory and majesty and splendor of the LORD will be revealed,
And all humanity shall see it together;
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken it.” [Luke 3:5, 6]
A voice says, “Call out [prophesy].”
Then he answered, “What shall I call out?”
[The voice answered:] All humanity is [as frail as] grass, and all that makes it attractive [its charm, its loveliness] is [momentary] like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, the flower fades,
When the breath of the LORD blows upon it;
Most certainly [all] the people are [like] grass.
The grass withers, the flower fades,
But the word of our God stands forever. [James 1:10, 11; 1 Pet 1:24, 25]
¶O Zion, herald of good news,
Get up on a high mountain.
O Jerusalem, herald of good news,
Lift up your voice with strength,
Lift it up, do not fear;
Say to the cities of Judah,
“Here is your God!” [Acts 10:36; Rom 10:15]
Listen carefully, the Lord GOD will come with might,
And His arm will rule for Him.
Most certainly His reward is with Him,
And His restitution accompanies Him. [Rev 22:7, 12]
He will protect His flock like a shepherd,
He will gather the lambs in His arm,
He will carry them in His bosom;
He will gently and carefully lead those nursing their young.
¶Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand,
And marked off the heavens with a span [of the hand],
And calculated the dust of the earth with a measure,
And weighed the mountains in a balance
And the hills in a pair of scales?
Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD,
Or has taught Him as His counselor? [Rom 11:34]