14 And it will be said,
(A)Build up, build up, prepare the way,
Remove every obstacle from the way of My people.”
15 For this is what the (B)high and exalted One
Who [a](C)lives forever, whose name is Holy, says:
“I (D)dwell in a high and holy place,
And also with the (E)contrite and lowly of spirit
In order to (F)revive the spirit of the lowly
And to revive the heart of the contrite.
16 For I will (G)not contend forever,
(H)Nor will I always be angry;
For the spirit would grow faint before Me,
And the (I)breath of those whom I have made.
17 Because of the wrongful act of his (J)unjust gain I was angry and struck him;
I hid My face and was angry,
And he went on (K)turning away, in the way of his heart.
18 I have seen his ways, but I will (L)heal him;
I will (M)lead him and (N)restore comfort to him and to his mourners,
19 Creating the [b](O)praise of the lips.
(P)Peace, peace to him who is (Q)far away and to him who is near,”
Says the Lord, “and I will heal him.”
20 But the (R)wicked are like the tossing sea,
For it cannot be quiet,
And its waters toss up refuse and mud.
21 (S)There is no peace,” says (T)my God, “for the wicked.”

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 57:15 Or dwells in eternity
  2. Isaiah 57:19 Lit fruit of the lips

Healing and Peace

14 He said,
“Build it up, build it up, prepare the way,
remove every obstacle from my people’s way.”(A)
15 For the High and Exalted One,
who lives forever, whose name is holy,(B) says this:
“I live in a high and holy place,
and with the oppressed and lowly of spirit,(C)
to revive the spirit of the lowly
and revive the heart of the oppressed.(D)
16 For I will not accuse you forever,
and I will not always be angry;(E)
for then the spirit would grow weak before me,
even the breath, which I have made.
17 Because of his sinful greed I was angry,(F)
so I struck him; I was angry and hid;
but he went on turning back to the desires of his heart.
18 I have seen his ways, but I will heal him;
I will lead him and restore comfort
to him and his mourners,(G)
19 creating words of praise.”[a](H)
The Lord says,
“Peace, peace to the one who is far or near,(I)
and I will heal him.
20 But the wicked are like the storm-tossed sea,(J)
for it cannot be still,
and its water churns up mire and muck.
21 There is no peace for the wicked,”
says my God.(K)

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Footnotes

  1. 57:19 Lit creating fruit of the lips

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.
17 I was enraged by their sinful greed;(L)
    I punished them, and hid(M) my face in anger,
    yet they kept on in their willful ways.(N)
18 I have seen their ways, but I will heal(O) them;
    I will guide(P) them and restore comfort(Q) to Israel’s mourners,
19     creating praise on their lips.(R)
Peace, peace,(S) to those far and near,”(T)
    says the Lord. “And I will heal them.”
20 But the wicked(U) are like the tossing sea,(V)
    which cannot rest,
    whose waves cast up mire(W) and mud.
21 “There is no peace,”(X) says my God, “for the wicked.”(Y)

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