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

He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.

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

But draw near here, you sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the whore.

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?

Against whom do you sport yourselves? against whom make you a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue? are you not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood,

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

Enflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys under the clefts of the 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?

Among the smooth stones of the stream is your portion; they, they are your lot: even to them have you poured a drink offering, you have offered a meat offering. Should I receive comfort in these?

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

On a lofty and high mountain have you set your bed: even thither went you up to offer sacrifice.

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;

Behind the doors also and the posts have you set up your remembrance: for you have discovered yourself to another than me, and are 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 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 you went to the king with ointment, and did increase your perfumes, and did send your messengers far off, and did debase yourself 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.

You are wearied in the greatness of your way; yet said you not, There is no hope: you have found the life of your hand; therefore you were not grieved.

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.

And of whom have you been afraid or feared, that you have lied, and have not remembered me, nor laid it to your heart? have not I held my peace even of old, and you fear me not?

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

I will declare your righteousness, and your works; for they shall not profit you.

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 you cry, let your companies deliver you; but the wind shall carry them all away; vanity shall take them: but he that puts his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain;

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

And shall say, Cast you up, cast you up, prepare the way, take up the stumbling block 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 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 ones.

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 always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.

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 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 healed him, and comforted him, and given him true comfort;

I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts to him and to his mourners.

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 create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, says the LORD; and I will heal him.

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

But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

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

There is no peace, says my God, to the wicked.