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17 They will lick the dust like a snake,
    like crawling things on the ground;
They will come quaking from their strongholds;
    they will tremble in fear of you, the Lord, our God.
18 [a]Who is a God like you, who removes guilt
    and pardons sin for the remnant of his inheritance;
Who does not persist in anger forever,
    but instead delights in mercy,(A)
19 And will again have compassion on us,
    treading underfoot our iniquities?
You will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins;

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Footnotes

  1. 7:18–20 The final lines of the book contain a hymn of praise for the incomparable God, who pardons sin and delights in mercy. Thus the remnant, those left after the exile, is confident in God’s compassion and in the ancient promises sworn to the ancestors.

17 They will lick dust(A) like a snake,
    like creatures that crawl on the ground.
They will come trembling(B) out of their dens;
    they will turn in fear(C) to the Lord our God
    and will be afraid of you.
18 Who is a God(D) like you,
    who pardons sin(E) and forgives(F) the transgression
    of the remnant(G) of his inheritance?(H)
You do not stay angry(I) forever
    but delight to show mercy.(J)
19 You will again have compassion on us;
    you will tread our sins underfoot
    and hurl all our iniquities(K) into the depths of the sea.(L)

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