Comfort for the Contrite

14 And it shall be said,
(A)“Build up, build up, prepare the way,
    remove every obstruction from my people's way.”
15 For thus says (B)the One who is high and lifted up,
    who inhabits eternity, whose name is (C)Holy:
(D)“I dwell in the high and holy place,
    and also (E)with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
(F)to revive the spirit of the lowly,
    and to revive the heart of the contrite.
16 (G)For I will not contend forever,
    nor will I always be angry;
for the spirit would grow faint before me,
    and the breath of life that I made.
17 Because of the iniquity of his (H)unjust gain I was angry,
    I struck him; I hid my face and was angry,
    but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart.
18 I have seen his ways, (I)but I will heal him;
    I will lead him (J)and restore comfort to him and his mourners,
19     (K)creating (L)the fruit of the lips.
(M)Peace, peace, (N)to the far and to the near,” says the Lord,
    (O)“and I will heal him.
20 (P)But the wicked are like the tossing sea;
    for it cannot be quiet,
    and its waters toss up mire and dirt.
21 (Q)There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”

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God Forgives the Repentant

14 God says, “Rebuild the road!
    Clear away the rocks and stones
    so my people can return from captivity.”
15 The high and lofty one who lives in eternity,
    the Holy One, says this:
“I live in the high and holy place
    with those whose spirits are contrite and humble.
I restore the crushed spirit of the humble
    and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.
16 For I will not fight against you forever;
    I will not always be angry.
If I were, all people would pass away—
    all the souls I have made.
17 I was angry,
    so I punished these greedy people.
I withdrew from them,
    but they kept going on their own stubborn way.
18 I have seen what they do,
    but I will heal them anyway!
    I will lead them.
I will comfort those who mourn,
19     bringing words of praise to their lips.
May they have abundant peace, both near and far,”
    says the Lord, who heals them.
20 “But those who still reject me are like the restless sea,
    which is never still
    but continually churns up mud and dirt.
21 There is no peace for the wicked,”
    says my God.

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