Isaiah 57:18-21

57:18 I have seen their behavior, ¹ 

but I will heal them and give them rest,

and I will once again console those who mourn. ² 

57:19 I am the one who gives them reason to celebrate. ³ 

Complete prosperity ⁴  is available both to those who are far away and those who are nearby,”

says the Lord, “and I will heal them.

57:20 But the wicked are like a surging sea

that is unable to be quiet;

its waves toss up mud and sand.

57:21 There will be no prosperity,” says my God, “for the wicked.”

[57:18]  ¹ tn Heb “his ways” (so KJV, NASB, NIV); TEV “how they acted.”

[57:18]  ² tn Heb “and I will restore consolation to him, to his mourners.”

[57:19]  ³ tc The Hebrew text has literally, “one who creates fruit of lips.” Perhaps the pronoun אֲנִי (’ani) should be inserted after the participle; it may have been accidentally omitted by haplography: נוּב שְׂפָתָיִם[אֲנִי] בּוֹרֵא (bore’ [’ani] nuv sÿfatayim). “Fruit of the lips” is often understood as a metonymy for praise; perhaps it refers more generally to joyful shouts (see v. 18).

[57:19]  ⁴ tn Heb “Peace, peace.” The repetition of the noun emphasizes degree.