12. I could tell about your ‘good works’ and all the ‘religious’ things you do, but that will not help you.
13. When you need help, you cry to those false gods that you have gathered around you. Let them help you! But I tell you, the wind will blow them all away. A puff of wind will blow them all away. But the one who depends on me will get the land I promised and enjoy my holy mountain.”
14. Clear the road! Clear the road! Make the way clear for my people!
15. God is high and lifted up. He lives forever. His name is holy. He says, “I live in a high and holy place, but I also live with people who are humble and sorry for their sins. I will give new life to those who are humble in spirit. I will give new life to those who are sorry for their sins.
16. I will not accuse my people forever. I will not always be angry. If I continued to show my anger, then the human spirit, the life I gave them, would die before me.
17. Israel’s evil greed made me angry, so I punished them. I turned away from them because I was angry. But they continued to do wrong. They did whatever they wanted.
18. I have seen their way of life, but I will heal them. I will guide and comfort them and those who mourn for them.
19. I will teach them a new word: peace. I will give peace to those who are near and to those who are far away. I will heal them.” The Lord himself said this.
20. But evil people are like the angry ocean. They cannot be quiet and peaceful. They are angry, and like the ocean, they stir up mud.
21. My God says, “There is no peace for evil people.”