Isaiah 57:14–21

Healing for the Backslider

14 And one shall say,

q“Heap it up! Heap it up!

Prepare the way,

Take the stumbling block out of the way of My people.”

15 For thus says the High and Lofty One

Who inhabits eternity, rwhose name is Holy:

s“I dwell in the high and holy place,

tWith him who has a contrite and humble spirit,

uTo revive the spirit of the humble,

And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

16 vFor I will not contend forever,

Nor will I always be angry;

For the spirit would fail before Me,

And the souls wwhich I have made.

17 For the iniquity of xhis covetousness

I was angry and struck him;

yI hid and was angry,

zAnd he went on 5backsliding in the way of his heart.

18 I have seen his ways, and awill heal him;

I will also lead him,

And restore comforts to him

And to bhis mourners.

19 “I create cthe fruit of the lips:

Peace, peace dto him who is far off and to him who is near,”

Says the Lord,

“And I will heal him.”

20 eBut the wicked are like the troubled sea,

When it cannot rest,

Whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

21 “There fis no peace,”

Says my God, “for the wicked.”