¹⁶ and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross,^(A) by which he put to death their hostility. ¹⁷ He came and preached peace^(B) to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.^(C)

¹⁸ God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie,^(A) we who have fled to take hold of the hope^(B) set before us may be greatly encouraged.

²⁰ and through him to reconcile^(A) to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven,^(B) by making peace^(C) through his blood,^(D) shed on the cross.

²¹ Once you were alienated from God and were enemies^(E) in your minds^(F) because of^[a] your evil behavior.

¹⁹ that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.^(A) And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰ We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors,^(B) as though God were making his appeal through us.^(C) We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.^{(D) 21} God made him who had no sin^(E) to be sin^[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.^(F)

²⁵ “‘I will make a covenant^(A) of peace^(B) with them and rid the land of savage beasts^(C) so that they may live in the wilderness and sleep in the forests in safety.^{(D) 26} I will make them and the places surrounding my hill a blessing.^[a](E) I will send down showers in season;^(F) there will be showers of blessing.^(G)