Isaiah 57:14-21
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
A Promise of Help and Healing
14 It shall be said,
“Build up, build up, prepare the way;
remove every obstruction from my people’s way.”(A)
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 those who are contrite and humble in spirit,
to revive the spirit of the humble
and to revive the heart of the contrite.(B)
16 For I will not continually accuse,
nor will I always be angry,
for then the spirits would grow faint before me,
even the souls that I have made.(C)
17 Because of their wicked covetousness I was angry;
I struck them; I hid and was angry,
but they kept turning back to their own ways.(D)
18 I have seen their ways, but I will heal them;
I will lead them and repay them with comfort,
19 creating for their mourners the fruit of the lips.[a]
Peace, peace, to the far and the near, says the Lord,
and I will heal them.(E)
20 But the wicked are like the tossing sea
that cannot keep still;
its waters toss up mire and mud.(F)
21 There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked.(G)
Footnotes
- 57.19 Meaning of Heb uncertain
Isaiah 57:14-21
International Standard Version
14 And one has said:[a]
‘Build up! Build up the road![b]
Prepare the highway!
Remove every obstacle from my people’s way.’
15 “For this is what the high and lofty One says,
who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
“He lives[c] in the height and in holiness,[d]
and also with the one 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 won’t accuse forever,
nor will I always be angry;
for then the human spirit would grow faint before me—
even the souls that I have created.
17 Because of his wicked greed I was angry,
so I punished him;
and[e] I hid my face, and was angry—
but he kept turning back to his stubborn will.[f]
18 I’ve seen his ways,[g] yet I will heal him,[h]
and restore for him[i] comfort[j] to him
and for those who mourn for him[k]
19 when[l] I create the fruit of the lips:
Peace[m] to the one who is far away or near,” says the Lord,
“and I’ll heal him.
20 But the wicked are tossed like the sea;[n]
for it is not able to[o] keep still,
and its waters toss up mire and mud.
21 “Yet[p] there is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”
Footnotes
- Isaiah 57:14 So 1QIsaa; MT reads one will say; or I will say; LXX reads they will say
- Isaiah 57:14 So 1QIsaa LXX; MT lacks the road
- Isaiah 57:15 So 1QIsaa 4QIsad; MT reads I live
- Isaiah 57:15 So 1QIsaa; 4QIsad MT read in the high and holy place
- Isaiah 57:17 So 1QIsaa 4QIsad LXX; 1QIsab MT lack and
- Isaiah 57:17 Lit. into the way of his heart
- Isaiah 57:18 So 1QIsaa MT LXX; 4QIsad reads way
- Isaiah 57:18 So 1QIsaa; MT reads him, and I will guide him; LXX reads him, and I will exhort him
- Isaiah 57:18 So 1QIsaa; the reading is probably an error: MT LXX lack for him
- Isaiah 57:18 So 1QIsaa; 1QIsab MT use different but related words
- Isaiah 57:18 Lit. for his mourners
- Isaiah 57:19 So 1QIsaa; 1QIsab 4QIsad MT lack when
- Isaiah 57:19 So 1QIsaa; 1QIsab MT read Peace, peace cf. LXX
- Isaiah 57:20 So 1QIsaa LXX; 4QIsad MT read are like the tossing sea
- Isaiah 57:20 So 1QIsaa; 4QIsad MT lack able to
- Isaiah 57:21 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX lack Yet
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