Isaiah 57:14-21

God promises to rescue his people

14 The Lord says,

‘Build a road! Make it ready for my people to travel on!

Remove everything that would cause them to fall.’

15 The Mighty God is far higher than all others.

He rules from above and he lives for ever.

His name is holy.

He says,

‘I live in a high and holy place.

But I am also with anyone who is humble

and who is sorry when he does wrong things.

I will comfort people who are like that.

I will help them to hope for good things.

16 I will not always speak against my people.

I will not be angry with them for ever.

I do not want them to lose hope completely.

I myself gave life to them.

17 I was angry with them because they were greedy,

which was a sin.

So I punished them.

I was angry and I turned away from them.

But they still refused to obey me.

They continued to do what they wanted to do.

18 I have seen what they are doing.

But I will make them well again.

I will be a guide for them,

and I will comfort them again.

Then people who are sad and they are weeping

19 will sing songs to praise me!

I will give them a reason to do that.

I will bring peace to all my people,

those who are far away,

and those who are near.

Yes, I will make them completely well again.’

That is what the Lord says.

20 ‘But wicked people are like a sea

with dangerous waves.

It cannot stay still.

Its waves throw up mud and dirt.

21 There will never be peace for wicked people.’

That is what my God says.