-
57:1 The righteous man perishes, and no man takes it to heart; And devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from evil, 57:2 He enters into peace; They rest in their beds, [Each one] who walked in his upright way. 57:3 "But come here, you sons of a sorceress, Offspring of an adulterer and a prostitute. 57:4 "Against whom do you jest? Against whom do you open wide your mouth And stick out your tongue? Are you not children of rebellion, Offspring of deceit, 57:5 [Who] inflame yourselves among the oaks, Under every luxuriant tree, Who slaughter the children in the ravines, Under the clefts of the crags? 57:6 "Among the smooth [stones] of the ravine Is your portion, they are your lot; Even to them you have poured out a libation, You have made a grain offering. Shall I relent concerning these things? 57:7 "Upon a high and lofty mountain You have made your bed. You also went up there to offer sacrifice. 57:8 "And behind the door and the doorpost You have set up your sign; Indeed, far removed from Me, you have uncovered yourself; And have gone up and made your bed wide. And you have made an agreement for yourself with them, You have loved their bed, You have looked on [their] manhood. 57:9 "And you have journeyed to the king with oil And increased your perfumes; You have sent your envoys a great distance, And made [them] go down to Sheol. 57:10 "You were tired out by the length of your road, [Yet] you did not say, 'It is hopeless.' You found renewed strength, Therefore you did not faint. 57:11 "Of whom were you worried and fearful, When you lied, and did not remember Me, Nor give [Me] a thought? Was I not silent even for a long time So you do not fear Me? 57:12 "I will declare your righteousness and your deeds, But they will not profit you. 57:13 "When you cry out, let your collection [of idols] deliver you. But the wind will carry all of them up, And a breath will take [them away]. But he who takes refuge in Me shall inherit the land,And shall possess My holy mountain." 57:14 And it shall be said, "Build up, build up, prepare the way, Remove [every] obstacle out of the way of My people." 57:15 For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, "I dwell [on] a high and holy place, And [also] with the contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite. 57:16 "For I will not contend forever, Neither will I always be angry; For the spirit would grow faint before Me, And the breath [of those whom] I have made. 57:17 "Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry and struck him; I hid [My face] and was angry, And he went on turning away, in the way of his heart. 57:18 "I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and to his mourners, 57:19 Creating the praise of the lips. Peace, peace to him who is far and to him who is near," Says the LORD, "and I will heal him." 57:20 But the wicked are like the tossing sea, For it cannot be quiet, And its waters toss up refuse and mud. 57:21 "There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked."