⁶ A voice says, “Cry out.”
    And I said, “What shall I cry?”

“All people are like grass,^(A)
    and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
⁷ The grass withers^(B) and the flowers fall,
    because the breath^(C) of the Lord blows^(D) on them.
    Surely the people are grass.
⁸ The grass withers and the flowers^(E) fall,
    but the word^(F) of our God endures^(G) forever.^(H)”

⁹ You who bring good news^(I) to Zion,
    go up on a high mountain.
You who bring good news to Jerusalem,^[a](J)
    lift up your voice with a shout,
lift it up, do not be afraid;
    say to the towns of Judah,
    “Here is your God!”^(K)
10 See, the Sovereign Lord comes^(L) with power,^(M)
    and he rules^(N) with a mighty arm.^(O)
See, his reward^(P) is with him,
    and his recompense accompanies him.
¹¹ He tends his flock like a shepherd:^(Q)
    He gathers the lambs in his arms^(R)
and carries them close to his heart;^(S)
    he gently leads^(T) those that have young.^(U)

¹² Who has measured the waters^(V) in the hollow of his hand,^(W)
    or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?^(X)
Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket,
    or weighed the mountains on the scales
    and the hills in a balance?^(Y)
13 Who can fathom the Spirit^[b](Z) of the Lord,
    or instruct the Lord as his counselor?^(AA)
14 Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him,
    and who taught him the right way?
Who was it that taught him knowledge,^(AB)
    or showed him the path of understanding?^(AC)

¹⁵ Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket;
    they are regarded as dust on the scales;^(AD)
    he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.^(AE)
16 Lebanon^(AF) is not sufficient for altar fires,
    nor its animals^(AG) enough for burnt offerings.
¹⁷ Before him all the nations^(AH) are as nothing;^(AI)
    they are regarded by him as worthless
    and less than nothing.^(AJ)

¹⁸ With whom, then, will you compare God?^(AK)
    To what image^(AL) will you liken him?
¹⁹ As for an idol,^(AM) a metalworker casts it,
    and a goldsmith^(AN) overlays it with gold^(AO)
    and fashions silver chains for it.
²⁰ A person too poor to present such an offering
    selects wood^(AP) that will not rot;
they look for a skilled worker
    to set up an idol^(AQ) that will not topple.^(AR)

²¹ Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?^(AS)
Has it not been told^(AT) you from the beginning?^(AU)
    Have you not understood^(AV) since the earth was founded?^(AW)
22 He sits enthroned^(AX) above the circle of the earth,
    and its people are like grasshoppers.^(AY)
He stretches out the heavens^(AZ) like a canopy,^(BA)
    and spreads them out like a tent^(BB) to live in.^(BC)
23 He brings princes^(BD) to naught
    and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.^(BE)
24 No sooner are they planted,
    no sooner are they sown,
    no sooner do they take root^(BF) in the ground,
than he blows^(BG) on them and they wither,^(BH)
    and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.^(BI)

²⁵ “To whom will you compare me?^(BJ)
    Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One.^(BK)
26 Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens:^(BL)
    Who created^(BM) all these?
He who brings out the starry host^(BN) one by one
    and calls forth each of them by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,^(BO)
    not one of them is missing.^(BP)

²⁷ Why do you complain, Jacob?
    Why do you say, Israel,
“My way is hidden from the Lord;
    my cause is disregarded by my God”?^(BQ)
28 Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?^(BR)
The Lord is the everlasting^(BS) God,
    the Creator^(BT) of the ends of the earth.^(BU)
He will not grow tired or weary,^(BV)
    and his understanding no one can fathom.^(BW)
29 He gives strength^(BX) to the weary^(BY)
    and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men^(BZ) stumble and fall;^(CA)
31 but those who hope^(CB) in the Lord
    will renew their strength.^(CC)
They will soar on wings like eagles;^(CD)
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.^(CE)