Isaiah 57:11-21

New International Version

¹¹ “Whom have you so dreaded and feared^(A)
    that you have not been true to me,
and have neither remembered^(B) me
    nor taken this to heart?^(C)
Is it not because I have long been silent^(D)
    that you do not fear me?
¹² I will expose your righteousness and your works,^(E)
    and they will not benefit you.
¹³ When you cry out^(F) for help,
    let your collection of idols save^(G) you!
The wind will carry all of them off,
    a mere breath will blow^(H) them away.
But whoever takes refuge^(I) in me
    will inherit the land^(J)
    and possess my holy mountain.”^(K)

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