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18 Why is my pain continuous,
    my wound incurable, refusing to be healed?
To me you are like a deceptive brook,
    waters that cannot be relied on!(A)
19     Thus the Lord answered me:
If you come back and I take you back,
    in my presence you shall stand;
If you utter what is precious and not what is worthless,
    you shall be my mouth.
Then they will be the ones who turn to you,
    not you who turn to them.
20 And I will make you toward this people
    a fortified wall of bronze.
Though they fight against you,
    they shall not prevail,
For I am with you,
    to save and rescue you—oracle of the Lord.(B)

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18 Why is my pain unending
    and my wound grievous and incurable?(A)
You are to me like a deceptive brook,
    like a spring that fails.(B)

19 Therefore this is what the Lord says:

“If you repent, I will restore you
    that you may serve(C) me;
if you utter worthy, not worthless, words,
    you will be my spokesman.(D)
Let this people turn to you,
    but you must not turn to them.
20 I will make you a wall(E) to this people,
    a fortified wall of bronze;
they will fight against you
    but will not overcome(F) you,
for I am with you
    to rescue and save you,”(G)
declares the Lord.

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