1 "Comfort my people," says your God. "Comfort them.
2 Speak tenderly to the people of Jerusalem. Announce to them that their hard service has been completed. Tell them that their sin has been paid for. Tell them I have punished them enough for all of their sins."
3 A messenger is calling out, "In the desert prepare the way for the Lord. Make a straight road through it for our God.
4 Every valley will be filled in. Every mountain and hill will be made level. The rough ground will be smoothed out. The rocky places will be made flat.
5 Then the glory of the Lord will appear. And everyone will see it. The Lord has spoken."