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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A Promise of Help and Healing

14 And it shall be said,
“Build up, build up, prepare the way,
    remove every obstruction from my people’s way.”
15 For thus says the high and lofty One
    who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
“I dwell in the high and holy place,
    and also with him 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 for ever,
    nor will I always be angry;
for from me proceeds the spirit,
    and I have made the breath of life.
17 Because of the iniquity of his covetousness I was angry,
    I smote 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, but I will heal him;
    I will lead him and requite him with comfort,
    creating for his mourners the fruit of the lips.
19 Peace, peace, to the far and to the near, says the Lord;
    and I will heal him.
20 But the wicked are like the tossing sea;
    for it cannot rest,
    and its waters toss up mire and dirt.
21 There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked.”

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