22. What future does Jehovah foretell for (a) the repentant? (b) the wicked?

²² Contrasting the future of those who repent with that of those who persist in their wicked ways, Jehovah declares: “I am creating the fruit of the lips.

23. What is the fruit of the lips, and in what way is Jehovah “creating” this fruit?

²³ The fruit of the lips is the sacrifice of praise offered to God​—public declaration to his name. (Hebrews 13:15) How is Jehovah “creating” that public declaration? In order to offer a sacrifice of praise, an individual first has to learn of God and then put faith in him. Faith​—a fruit of God’s spirit—​moves that person to tell others what he has heard. In other words, he makes public declaration. (Romans 10:13-15; Galatians 5:22) It should be remembered, too, that Jehovah is ultimately the one who commissions his servants to tell forth his praise. And Jehovah is the one who liberates his people, making it possible for them to offer such sacrifices of praise. (1 Peter 2:9) Hence, Jehovah can well be said to create this fruit of the lips.

24. (a) Who come to know God’s peace, and with what result? (b) Who do not come to know peace, and what is the result for them?

²⁴ What thrilling fruit of the lips the Jews must be offering as they return to their homeland singing praises to Jehovah! They must be joyful to know God’s peace, whether they are “far away”​—distant from Judah, still waiting to return—​or “near”​—already in their homeland.