“Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God.

Tell those who panic, “Be strong! Do not fear! Look, your God comes to avenge! With divine retribution he comes to deliver you.”

But your sinful acts have alienated you from your God; your sins have caused him to reject you and not listen to your prayers.

Go up on a high mountain, O herald Zion! Shout out loudly, O herald Jerusalem! Shout, don’t be afraid! Say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!”