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."
6 Another messenger says, "Cry out." And I said, "What should I cry?" "Cry out, 'All people are like grass. They don't last any longer than flowers in the field.
7 The grass dries up. The flowers fall to the ground. That happens when the Lord makes his wind blow on them. So people are just like grass.
8 The grass dries up. The flowers fall to the ground. But what our God says will stand forever.' "