Chapter 57

  The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart; and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil [to come].  

  He entereth into peace; they rest in their beds, each one that walketh in his uprightness.  

  But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the harlot.  

  Against whom do ye sport yourselves? against whom make ye a wide mouth, and put out the tongue? are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood,  

  ye that inflame yourselves among the oaks, under every green tree; that slay the children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?  

  Among the smooth [stones] of the valley is thy portion; they, they are thy lot; even to them hast thou poured a drink-offering, thou hast offered an oblation. Shall I be appeased for these things?  

  Upon a high and lofty mountain hast thou set thy bed; thither also wentest thou up to offer sacrifice.  

  And behind the doors and the posts hast thou set up thy memorial: for thou hast uncovered [thyself] to another than me, and art gone up; thou hast enlarged thy bed, and made thee a covenant with them: thou lovedst their bed where thou sawest it.  

  And thou wentest to the king with oil, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thine ambassadors far off, and didst debase thyself even unto Sheol.  

  Thou wast wearied with the length of thy way; yet saidst thou not, It is in vain: thou didst find a quickening of thy strength; therefore thou wast not faint.  

  And of whom hast thou been afraid and in fear, that thou liest, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of long time, and thou fearest me not?  

  I will declare thy righteousness; and as for thy works, they shall not profit thee.  

  When thou criest, let them that thou hast gathered deliver thee; but the wind shall take them, a breath shall carry them all away: but he that taketh refuge in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain.  

  And he will say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumbling-block out of the way of my people.  

  For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.  

  For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth; for the spirit would faint before me, and the souls that I have made.  

  For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him; I hid [my face] and was wroth; and he went on backsliding in the way of his heart.  

  I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.  

  I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace, to him that is far off and to him that is near, saith Jehovah; and I will heal him.  

  But the wicked are like the troubled sea; for it cannot rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt.  

  There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.