Isaiah 57

The righteous one perishes, and no one takes it to heart. Men of steadfast love are gathered away, with no one understanding that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.

KJV 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.

He enters into peace; they rest on their beds — each one who walked in uprightness.

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

But you — draw near, you sons of a sorceress, you offspring of the adulterer and the prostitute!

KJV But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the whore.

Whom are you mocking? Against whom do you open wide your mouth and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, offspring of deceit?

KJV 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,

You who burn with lust among the oaks, under every green tree — who slaughter children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks!

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

Among the smooth stones of the valley is your portion; they, they are your lot! To them you have poured out drink offerings; you have brought grain offerings. Shall I relent concerning these things?

KJV 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?

On a high and lofty mountain you have set your bed; there also you went up to offer sacrifice.

KJV Upon a lofty and high mountain hast thou set thy bed: even thither wentest thou up to offer sacrifice.

Behind the door and the doorpost you have set up your pagan symbols. Deserted Me and uncovered yourself — you climbed up and made your bed wide. You made a pact with them; you loved their bed; you gazed on their nakedness.

KJV 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.

You journeyed to the king with oil and multiplied your perfumes. You sent your envoys far away and debased yourself even to Sheol.

KJV 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.

You wearied yourself on your many journeys, but you never said, 'It is hopeless.' You found renewal of strength and so did not grow faint.

KJV 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.

Whom did you dread and fear, that you lied and did not remember Me or take it to heart? Have I not held My peace for a long time, and so you do not fear Me?

KJV 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?

I will expose your so-called righteousness and your works — they will not profit you.

KJV I will declare thy righteousness, and thy works; for they shall not profit thee.

When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you! But the wind will carry them all away; a breath will take them. But the one who takes refuge in Me shall inherit the land and possess My holy mountain.

KJV 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;

And it shall be said: 'Build up, build up! Prepare the way! Remove every obstacle from the path of My people.'

KJV And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people.

For this is what the High and Exalted One says — He who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: 'I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with the one who is crushed and lowly in spirit — to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the crushed.'

KJV 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.

For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry, for the spirit would grow faint before Me — the very breath of life that I have made.

KJV 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.

Because of his wicked greed I was angry; I struck him and hid My face in wrath. Yet he kept turning away, following the path of his own heart.

KJV 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.

I have seen his ways, but I will heal him. I will lead him and restore comfort to him and to his mourners.

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

creating the fruit of the lips: 'Peace, peace to the one who is far off and to the one who is near,' says the LORD, 'and I will heal him.'

KJV 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.

But the wicked are like the churning sea that cannot be still; its waters toss up mire and mud.

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

'There is no peace,' says my God, 'for the wicked.'

KJV There is no peace, saith my God, unto the wicked.