Chapter 57
1 The righteous perish, and no one lays it to heart . Merciful men are taken away , and no one considers that the righteous is taken away from the evil .
2 He enters into peace . They rest in their beds , each one who walks in his uprightness .
3 " But draw near here , you sons of a sorceress , you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes .
4 Whom do you mock? Against whom do you make a wide mouth and stick out your tongue ? Aren’t you children of disobedience and offspring of falsehood ,
5 you who inflame yourselves among the oaks, under every green tree ; who kill 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 . You have even poured a drink offering to them . You have offered an offering . Shall I be appeased for these things ?
7 On a high and lofty mountain you have set your bed . You also went up there to offer sacrifice .
8 You have set up your memorial behind the doors and the posts , for you have exposed yourself to someone besides me , and have gone up . You have enlarged your bed and made a covenant for yourself with them . You loved what you saw on their bed .
9 You went to the king with oil , increased your perfumes , sent your ambassadors far off , and degraded yourself even to Sheol .
10 You were wearied with the length of your ways ; yet you didn’t say, ‘ It is in vain.’ You found a reviving of your strength ; therefore you weren’t faint .
11 " Whom have you dreaded and feared , so that you lie , and have not remembered me , nor laid it to your heart ? Haven’t I held my peace for a long time , and you don’t fear me ?
12 I will declare your righteousness ; and as for your works , they will not benefit you .
13 When you cry , let those whom you have gathered deliver you , but the wind will take them . A breath will carry them all away , but he who takes refuge in me will possess the land, and will inherit my holy mountain ."
14 He will say, " Build up , build up , prepare the way ! Remove the stumbling-block out of the way of my people ."
15 For the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity , whose name is Holy , says : " I dwell in the high and holy place , with him also who 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 forever , neither will I always be angry ; for the spirit would faint before me , and the souls whom I have made .
17 I was angry because of the iniquity of his covetousness and struck him . I hid myself and was angry ; 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 who is far off and to him who is near ," says Yahweh ; " and I will heal them ."
20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea ; for it can ’t rest and its waters cast up mire and mud .
21 " There is no peace ", says my God, " for the wicked ."