14 And it will be said,
(A)Build up, build up, prepare the way,
Remove every obstacle from the way of My people.”
15 For this is what the (B)high and exalted One
Who [a](C)lives forever, whose name is Holy, says:
“I (D)dwell in a high and holy place,
And also with the (E)contrite and lowly of spirit
In order to (F)revive the spirit of the lowly
And to revive the heart of the contrite.
16 For I will (G)not contend forever,
(H)Nor will I always be angry;
For the spirit would grow faint before Me,
And the (I)breath of those whom I have made.
17 Because of the wrongful act of his (J)unjust gain I was angry and struck him;
I hid My face and was angry,
And he went on (K)turning away, in the way of his heart.
18 I have seen his ways, but I will (L)heal him;
I will (M)lead him and (N)restore comfort to him and to his mourners,
19 Creating the [b](O)praise of the lips.
(P)Peace, peace to him who is (Q)far away and to him who is near,”
Says the Lord, “and I will heal him.”
20 But the (R)wicked are like the tossing sea,
For it cannot be quiet,
And its waters toss up refuse and mud.
21 (S)There is no peace,” says (T)my God, “for the wicked.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 57:15 Or dwells in eternity
  2. Isaiah 57:19 Lit fruit of the lips

Peace for the remorseful

14 It will be said: “Survey, survey; build a road!
    Remove barriers from my people’s road!”
15 The one who is high and lifted up,
    who lives forever, whose name is holy, says:
I live on high, in holiness,
    and also with the crushed[a] and the lowly,
    reviving the spirit of the lowly,
    reviving the heart of those who have been crushed.[b]
16 I won’t always accuse,
    nor will I be enraged forever.
    It is my own doing that their spirit is exhausted—
    I gave them breath!
17 I was enraged about their illegal profits;
    I struck them; in rage I withdrew from them.
Yet they went on wandering wherever they wanted.
18     I have seen their ways, but I will heal them.
    I will guide them,
        and reward them with comfort.
And for those who mourn,
19     I will create reason for praise:[c]
    utter prosperity to those far and near,
    and I will heal them, says the Lord.
20 But the wicked are like the churning sea that can’t keep still.
    They churn up from their waters muck and mud.
21     There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 57:15 Or contrite
  2. Isaiah 57:15 Or contrite
  3. Isaiah 57:19 Heb uncertain