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The Way to Peace for God’s People

14 And I say:
Build up, build up, prepare the way,
    remove every obstacle from my people’s way.[a](A)
15 [b]For thus says the high and lofty One,
    the One who dwells forever, whose name is holy:
I dwell in a high and holy place,
    but also with the contrite and lowly of spirit,
To revive the spirit of the lowly,
    to revive the heart of the crushed.
16 For I will not accuse forever,
    nor always be angry;
For without me their spirit fails,
    the life breath that I have given.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 57:14 The way…my people’s way: the language and imagery are reminiscent of 40:1–2, but in this context, when the people have already returned, the physical road through the desert is replaced by the spiritual way that leads to redemption.
  2. 57:15 The God of Israel is presented in both a transcendent and an immanent manner. God’s holiness is the transcendent quality; the immanence is shown in the choice of dwelling among the downtrodden and humble.

Comfort for the Contrite

14 And it will be said:

“Build up, build up, prepare the road!(A)
    Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people.”(B)
15 For this is what the high and exalted(C) One says—
    he who lives forever,(D) whose name is holy:
“I live in a high(E) and holy place,
    but also with the one who is contrite(F) and lowly in spirit,(G)
to revive the spirit of the lowly
    and to revive the heart of the contrite.(H)
16 I will not accuse(I) them forever,
    nor will I always be angry,(J)
for then they would faint away because of me—
    the very people(K) I have created.

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