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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Comfort for the Contrite

14 And it will be said:

“Build up, build up, prepare the road!(A)
    Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people.”(B)
15 For this is what the high and exalted(C) One says—
    he who lives forever,(D) whose name is holy:
“I live in a high(E) and holy place,
    but also with the one who is contrite(F) and lowly in spirit,(G)
to revive the spirit of the lowly
    and to revive the heart of the contrite.(H)
16 I will not accuse(I) them forever,
    nor will I always be angry,(J)
for then they would faint away because of me—
    the very people(K) I have created.
17 I was enraged by their sinful greed;(L)
    I punished them, and hid(M) my face in anger,
    yet they kept on in their willful ways.(N)
18 I have seen their ways, but I will heal(O) them;
    I will guide(P) them and restore comfort(Q) to Israel’s mourners,
19     creating praise on their lips.(R)
Peace, peace,(S) to those far and near,”(T)
    says the Lord. “And I will heal them.”
20 But the wicked(U) are like the tossing sea,(V)
    which cannot rest,
    whose waves cast up mire(W) and mud.
21 “There is no peace,”(X) says my God, “for the wicked.”(Y)

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