Isaiah 57
1. 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.
2. He shall enter * into peace: they shall rest * in their beds, each one walking * in his uprightness.
3. But draw near * hither, ye sons of the sorceress * , the seed of the adulterer * and the whore * .
4. Against whom do ye sport * yourselves? against whom make ye a wide * mouth, and draw out * the tongue? are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood,
5. Enflaming * yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying * the children in the valleys under the clifts of the rocks?
6. Among the smooth stones of the stream is thy portion; they, they are thy lot: even to them hast thou poured * a drink offering,thou hast offered * a meat offering. Should I receive comfort * in these?
7. Upon a lofty and high * mountain hast thou set * thy bed: even thither wentest thou up * to offer * sacrifice.
8. Behind the doors also and the posts hast thou set up * thy remembrance: for thou hast discovered * 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.
9. And thou wentest * to the king with ointment, and didst increase * thy perfumes, and didst send * thy messengers far off, and didst debase * thyself even unto hell.
10. Thou art wearied * in the greatness of thy way; yet saidst * thou not, There is no hope * : thou hast found * the life of thine hand; therefore thou wast not grieved * .
11. And of whom hast thou been afraid * or feared * , that thou hast lied * , and hast not remembered * me, nor laid * it to thy heart? have not I held my peace * even of old, and thou fearest * me not?
12. I will declare * thy righteousness, and thy works; for they shall not profit * thee.
13. When thou criest * , let thy companies deliver * thee; but the wind shall carry them all away * ; vanity shall take * them: but he that putteth his trust * in me shall possess * the land, and shall inherit * my holy mountain;
14. And shall say * , Cast ye up * , cast ye up * , prepare * the way,take up * the stumblingblock out of the way of my people.
15. 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 ones * .
16. For I will not contend * for ever,neither will I be always wroth * : for the spirit should fail * before me, and the souls which I have made * .
17. For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth * , and smote * him: I hid * me, and was wroth * , and he went on * frowardly in the way of his heart.
18. I have seen * his ways, and will heal * him: I will lead * him also, and restore * comforts unto him and to his mourners.
19. I create * the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith * the LORD; and I will heal * him.
20. But the wicked are like the troubled * sea, when it cannot * rest * , whose waters cast up * mire and dirt.
21. There is no peace, saith * my God, to the wicked.
