¹⁴ For the Lord will vindicate his people
and have compassion on his servants.^(A)

40 “Comfort, comfort my people,”^(A)
says your God.
² “Speak tenderly to^[a] Jerusalem,
and announce to her
that her time of hard service is over,
her iniquity^(B) has been pardoned,^(C)
and she has received from the Lord’s hand
double for all her sins.”^(D)

¹¹ He protects his flock like a shepherd;^(A)
he gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them in the fold of his garment.
He gently leads those that are nursing.

¹⁰ They will not hunger or thirst,
the scorching heat or sun will not strike them;
for their compassionate one will guide them,
and lead them to springs.^(A)

³ For the Lord will comfort Zion;^(A)
he will comfort all her waste places,
and he will make her wilderness like Eden,^(B)
and her desert like the garden of the Lord.^(C)
Joy and gladness will be found in her,
thanksgiving and melodious song.

¹⁸ I have seen his ways, but I will heal him;
I will lead him and restore comfort
to him and his mourners,^(A)

² to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,^(A)
and the day of our God’s vengeance;^(B)
to comfort^(C) all who mourn,