Esias 57

1 See how the just man has perished, and no one lays [it] to heart: and righteous men are taken away, and no one considers: for the righteous has been removed out of the way of injustice.

The just perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart, and men of mercy are taken away, because there is none that understandeth; for the just man is taken away from before the face of evil.

2 His burial shall be in peace: he has been removed out of the way.

Let peace come, let him rest in his bed that hath walked in his uprightness.

3 But draw you near hither, you lawless children, the seed of adulterers and the harlot.

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

4 Wherein have you been rioting? and against whom have you opened your mouth, and against whom have you loosed your tongue? are you not children of perdition? a lawless seed?

Upon whom have you jested? upon whom have you opened your mouth wide, and put out your tongue? are not you wicked children, a false seed,

5 who call upon idols under the leafy trees, slaying your children in the valleys amongst the rocks?

Who seek your comfort in idols under every green tree, sacrificing children in the torrents, under the high rocks?

6 That is your portion, this is your lot: and to them have you poured forth drink-offerings, and to these have you offered meat-offerings. Shall I not therefore be angry for these things?

In the parts of the torrent is thy portion, this is thy lot: and thou hast poured out libations to them, thou hast offered sacrifice. Shall I not be angry at these things?

7 On a lofty and high mountain, there is your bed, and there you carried up your meat-offerings:

Upon a high and lofty mountain thou hast laid thy bed, and hast gone up thither to offer victims.

8 and behind the posts of your door you did place your memorials. Did you think that if you should depart from me, you would gain? you have loved those that lay with you;

And behind the door, and behind the post thou best set up thy remembrance: for thou hast discovered thyself near me, and hast received an adulterer: thou hast enlarged thy bed, and made a covenant with them: thou hast loved their bed with open hand.

9 and you have multiplied your whoredom with them, and you have increased the number of them that are far from you, and have sent ambassadors beyond your borders, and have been debased even to hell. (Sheol h7585)

And thou hast adorned thyself for the king with ointment, and hast multiplied thy perfumes. Thou hast sent thy messengers far off, and wast debased even to hell. (Sheol h7585)

10 You has wearied yourself with your many ways; yet you said not, I will cease to strengthen myself: for you has done these things; therefore you has not supplicated me.

Thou hast been wearied in the multitude of thy ways: yet thou saidst not: I will rest: thou hast found life of thy hand, therefore thou hast not asked.

11 Through dread of whom have you feared, and lied against me, and has not remembered, nor considered me, nor regarded me, yes, though when I see you I pass you by, yet you has not feared me.

For whom hast thou been solicitous and afraid, that thou hast lied, and hast not been mindful of me, nor thought on me in thy heart? for I am silent, and as one that seeth not, and thou hast forgotten me.

12 And I will declare your righteousness, and your sins, which shall not profit you.

I will declare thy justice, and thy works shall not profit thee.

13 When you cry out, let them deliver you in your affliction: for all these the wind shall take, and the tempest shall carry [them] away: but they that cleave to me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain.

When thou shalt cry, let thy companies deliver thee, but the wind shall carry them all off, a breeze shall take them away, but he that putteth his trust in me, shall inherit the land, and shall possess my holy mount.

14 And they shall say, Clear the ways before him, and take up the stumbling blocks out of the way of my people.

And I will say: Make a way: give free passage, turn out of the path, take away the stumblingblocks out of the way of my people.

15 Thus says the Most High, who dwells on high for ever, Holy in the holies, is his name, the Most High resting in the holies, and giving patience to the faint-hearted, and giving life to the broken-hearted:

For thus saith the High and the Eminent that inhabiteth eternity: and his name is Holy, who dwelleth in the high and holy place, and with a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

16 I will not take vengeance on you for ever, neither will I be always angry with you: for my Spirit shall go forth from me, and I have created all breath.

For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be angry unto the end: because the spirit shall go forth from my face, and breathings I will make.

17 On account of sin for a little while I grieved him, and struck him, and turned away my face from him; and he was grieved, and he went on sorrowful in his ways.

For the iniquity of his covetousness I was angry, and I struck him: I hid my face from thee, and was angry: and he went away wandering in his own heart.

18 I have seen his ways, and healed him, and comforted him, and given him true comfort;

I saw his ways, and I healed him, and brought him back, and restored comforts to him, and to them that mourn for him.

19 peace upon peace to them that are far off, and to them that are near: and the Lord has said, I will heal them.

I created the fruit of the lips, peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, said the Lord, and I healed him.

20 But the unrighteous shall be tossed as troubled waves, and shall not be able to rest.

But the wicked are like the raging sea, which cannot rest, and the waves thereof cast up dirt and mire.

21 There is no joy to the ungodly, said God.

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