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15 For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:
In returning and rest you shall be saved;
    in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.
But you refused(A) 16 and said,
‘No! We will flee upon horses’—
    therefore you shall flee!
and, ‘We will ride upon swift steeds’—
    therefore your pursuers shall be swift!(B)
17 A thousand shall flee at the threat of one;
    at the threat of five you shall flee
until you are left
    like a flagstaff on the top of a mountain,
    like a signal on a hill.(C)

God’s Promise to Zion

18 Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you;
    therefore he will rise up to show mercy to you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
    blessed are all those who wait for him.(D)

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15 For the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said:
“You will be delivered by returning and resting;
your strength will lie in quiet confidence.
But you are not willing.”
16 You say, “No!
We will escape on horses”—
therefore you will escape!—
and, “We will ride on fast horses”—
but those who pursue you will be faster.(A)
17 One thousand will flee at the threat of one,(B)
at the threat of five you will flee,
until you alone remain
like a solitary pole on a mountaintop
or a banner on a hill.

The Lord’s Mercy to Israel

18 Therefore the Lord is waiting to show you mercy,
and is rising up to show you compassion,(C)
for the Lord is a just God.
All who wait patiently for Him are happy.

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