“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.” (Isaiah
57:1-21 AV)