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14 He will say, “Build up, build up, prepare the way!
    Remove the stumbling-block out of the way of my people.”
15 For the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity,
    whose name is Holy, says:
“I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also who is of a contrite and humble spirit,
    to revive the spirit of the humble,
    and to revive the heart of the contrite.
16 For I will not contend forever, neither will I always be angry;
    for the spirit would faint before me,
    and the souls whom I have made.
17 I was angry because of the iniquity of his covetousness and struck him.
    I hid myself and was angry;
    and he went on backsliding in the way of his heart.
18 I have seen his ways, and will heal him.
    I will lead him also,
    and restore comforts to him and to his mourners.
19 I create the fruit of the lips:
    Peace, peace, to him who is far off and to him who is near,”
    says Yahweh; “and I will heal them.”
20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea;
    for it can’t rest and its waters cast up mire and mud.
21 “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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