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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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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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