Isaiah 57:14-21

Evangelical Heritage Version

¹⁴ I will say,^[a]
“Build up, build up the highway.
Prepare the way.
Remove the stumbling block from the way of my people.”
¹⁵ Certainly this is what the High and Lofty One says,
the one who dwells with his people forever,
and whose name is holy:
    I dwell in a high and holy place,
    yet also with the one who is crushed and lowly in spirit,
    in order to revive the spirit of those who have been pushed down,
    and to revive the hearts of those who have been crushed.
¹⁶     Surely I will not accuse forever,
    and I will not always be angry,
    because every spirit would grow weak in my presence,
    and every breath of life, which I made, would fail.
¹⁷     Because of the guilt from their selfish gain, I was angry,
    and I struck them and hid my face.
    I was angry,
    but the deserter^[b] kept walking in the way his heart desired.
¹⁸     I saw his ways,
    but I will heal him, and I will lead him,
    and I will restore comfort to him
    and to all who mourn with him.
¹⁹     I am the one who creates praise as the fruit of their lips.^[c]

Peace, peace to the one far off and to the one nearby,
says the Lord,
and I will heal him.
²⁰ But the wicked are like the tossing sea,
    which is not able to rest.
Its waters toss up dirt and mud.
²¹ There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked.