Isa 57
1
The righteous perishes, and no man lays it to heart; and merciful men are taken away,
none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil [to come].
2
He enters into peace; they rest in their beds, each one that walks in his uprightness.
3
But draw near here, you sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the harlot.
4
Against whom do you sport yourselves? against whom make you a wide mouth, and put
out the tongue? are you not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood,
5
you that inflame yourselves among the oaks, under every green tree; that slay the
children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?
6
Among the smooth [stones] of the valley is your portion; they, they are your lot;
even to them have you poured a drink-offering, you have offered an oblation. Shall
I be appeased for these things?
7
Upon a high and lofty mountain have you set your bed; there also went you up to offer
sacrifice.
8
And behind the doors and the posts have you set up your memorial: for you have uncovered
[yourself] to another than me, and art gone up; you have enlarged your bed, and made
you a covenant with them: you loved their bed where you saw it.
9
And you went to the king with oil, and did increase your perfumes, and did send your
ambassadors far off, and did debase yourself even to Sheol.
10
You were wearied with the length of your way; yet said you not, It is in vain: you
did find a quickening of your strength; therefore you were not faint.
11
And of whom have you been afraid and in fear, that you lie, and have not remembered
me, nor laid it to your heart? have not I held my peace even of long time, and you
fear me not?
12
I will declare your righteousness; and as for your works, they shall not profit you.
13
When you cry, let them that you have gathered deliver you; but the wind shall take
them, a breath shall carry them all away: but he who takes refuge in me shall possess
the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain.
14
And he will say, Cast you up, cast you up, prepare the way, take up the stumbling-block
out of the way of my people.
15
For thus says the high and lofty One that inhabits 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.
16
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.
17
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.
18
I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts
to him and to his mourners.
19
I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace, to him whom is far off and to him whom
is near, says YHWH; and I will heal him.
20
But the wicked are like the troubled sea; for it cannot rest, and its waters cast
up mire and dirt.
21
There is no peace, says my God, to the wicked.