Prepare the Way for the LORD (Matthew 3:1–12; Mark 1:1–8; Luke 3:1–20; John 1:19–28)
1 UEB "Comfort, comfort my people," says your God. BSB BSB: “Comfort, comfort My people,” says your God.
2 UEB "Speak tenderly to Jerusalem; and proclaim to her that her warfare has ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received double from Yahweh's hand for all her sins." BSB BSB: “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her forced labor has been completed; her iniquity has been pardoned. For she has received from the hand of the LORD double for all her sins.”
3 UEB A voice cries out, "In the wilderness prepare the way of Yahweh; make straight in the Arabah a highway for our God." BSB BSB: A voice of one calling: “Prepare the way for the LORD in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert.
4 UEB Every valley will be lifted up, and every mountain and hill will be leveled; and the rugged land will be made level, and the rough places a plain; BSB BSB: Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill made low; the uneven ground will become smooth, and the rugged land a plain.
5 UEB and the glory of Yahweh will be revealed, and all people will see it together; for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken it. BSB BSB: And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all humanity together will see it.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
The Enduring Word (1 Peter 1:22–25)
7 UEB The grass withers and the flower wilts when the breath of Yahweh blows on it; surely humanity is grass. BSB BSB: The grass withers and the flowers fall when the breath of the LORD blows on them; indeed, the people are grass.
Here Is Your God! (Romans 11:33–36)
9 UEB Go up on a high mountain, Zion, bearer of good news. Shout out loud, Jerusalem. You who bring good news, raise your voice, do not be afraid. Say to the cities of Judah, "Here is your God!" BSB BSB: Go up on a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news. Raise your voice loudly, O Jerusalem, herald of good news. Lift it up, do not be afraid! Say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!”
10 UEB Look, the Lord Yahweh comes as a victorious warrior, and his strong arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and those he has rescued go before him. BSB BSB: Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and His arm establishes His rule. His reward is with Him, and His recompense accompanies Him.
11 UEB He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather in his arm the lambs, and carry them close to his heart, and will gently lead the ewes nursing their young. BSB BSB: He tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart. He gently leads the nursing ewes.
13 UEB Who has comprehended the mind of Yahweh, or instructed him as his counselor? BSB BSB: Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or informed Him as His counselor?
14 UEB From whom did he ever receive instruction? Who taught him the correct way to do things, and taught him knowledge, or showed to him the way of understanding? BSB BSB: Whom did He consult to enlighten Him, and who taught Him the paths of justice? Who imparted knowledge to Him and showed Him the way of understanding?
15 UEB Look, the nations are like a drop in a bucket, and are regarded like the dust on the scales; see, he weighs the isles as a speck. BSB BSB: Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are considered a speck of dust on the scales; He lifts up the islands like fine dust.
16 UEB Lebanon is not sufficient fuel, nor its wild animals sufficient for a burnt offering. BSB BSB: Lebanon is not sufficient for fuel, nor its animals enough for a burnt offering.
17 UEB All the nations are insufficient before him; they are regarded by him as nothing. BSB BSB: All the nations are as nothing before Him; He regards them as nothingness and emptiness.
18 UEB To whom then will you compare God? To what idol will you liken him? BSB BSB: To whom will you liken God? To what image will you compare Him?
19 UEB An idol! A craftsman casts it: The goldsmith overlays it with gold and forges silver chains for it. BSB BSB: To an idol that a craftsman casts and a metalworker overlays with gold and fits with silver chains?
20 UEB To make an offering one chooses a wood that will not rot; he seeks a skillful artisan to make an idol that will not fall over. BSB BSB: One lacking such an offering chooses wood that will not rot. He seeks a skilled craftsman to set up an idol that will not topple.
21 UEB Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? BSB BSB: Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been declared to you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the foundation of the earth?
22 UEB He is the one who sits above the horizon of the earth; and the inhabitants are like grasshoppers before him. He stretches out the heavens like a curtain and spreads them out as a tent to live in. BSB BSB: He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth; its dwellers are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.
23 UEB He reduces rulers to nothing and makes the rulers of the earth insignificant. BSB BSB: He brings the princes to nothing and makes the rulers of the earth meaningless.
24 UEB They are barely planted, barely sown, their stem has barely taken root in the earth, when he blows upon them and they wither, and the wind carries them away like straw. BSB BSB: No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner have their stems taken root in the ground, than He blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like stubble.
25 UEB "To whom then will you compare me, whom do I resemble?" says the Holy One. BSB BSB: “To whom will you liken Me, or who is My equal?” asks the Holy One.
26 UEB Look up at the sky! Who has created all these stars? He leads out their formations and calls them all by name. By the greatness of his might and by the strength of his power, not one is missing. BSB BSB: Lift up your eyes on high: Who created all these? He leads forth the starry host by number; He calls each one by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.
27 UEB Why do you say, Jacob, and declare, Israel, "My way is hidden from Yahweh, and my God is not concerned about my vindication"? BSB BSB: Why do you say, O Jacob, and why do you assert, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD, and my claim is ignored by my God”?
29 UEB He gives strength to the tired; and to the weak he gives renewed energy. BSB BSB: He gives power to the faint and increases the strength of the weak.
30 UEB Even young people become tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall: BSB BSB: Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall.
31 UEB but those who wait for Yahweh will renew their strength; they will soar with wings like eagles; they will run and not be weary; they will walk and not faint. BSB BSB: But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.