The Book of the Prophet Isaiah 57

 The Book of the Prophet Isaiah 57

1 The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil.

2 Those who walk uprightly enter into peace and rest in their beds.

3 But come here, you children of the sorceress, you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes.

4 Whom do you mock? Against whom do you open your mouth wide and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, offspring of falsehood?

5 You burn with lust under every green tree and sacrifice your children in the ravines, in the clefts of the rocks.

6 On the smooth stones of the ravines is your portion; these are your lot; on them you pour out your drink offering and sacrifice to them. Should I be pleased with these things?

7 On high and lofty mountains you set your bed; you go up to them to offer sacrifices.

8 Behind the doors and doorposts you set up your memorials; for you uncover yourself to others more than to me, and you go up, you enlarge your bed, and you make a covenant with them; you love their bed wherever you see it.

9 You go to the king with oil and multiply your perfumes; you send your ambassadors far away, and you humble yourself even to hell.

10 On your long journey you have wearied yourself; but you do not say, “There is no hope”; what you sought you have found, therefore you do not grow weary.

11 But of whom did you have fear or dread, that you lied, and did not remember me, nor set me in your heart? Is it not because I have kept silent, and that for a long time, and you do not fear?

12 I will declare your righteousness, and your deeds, which will not profit you.

13 When you cry out, let your assembled people deliver you; but the wind will carry them all away, and vanity will snatch them away; but he who trusts in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain.

14 And it shall be said: “Level, level, prepare the way; remove the stumbling blocks from the path of my people.”

15 For thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who 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 forever, nor will I always be angry; for the spirit would grow faint before me, and the souls that I have made.”

17 Because of the iniquity of their covetousness I was angry, and struck them: I hid myself, and was angry; but they rebelled, followed the way of their heart.

18 I see their ways, and will heal them; I will also guide them, and restore comforts to them and to their mourners.

19 I create the fruit of the lips: peace, peace, to those who are far off, and to those who are near, says the Lord; and I will heal them.

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

21 The wicked, says my God, have no peace.