Chapter 57

  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].  

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  He entereth into peace; they rest in their beds, each one that walketh in his uprightness.  

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

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

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  ye that inflame yourselves among the oaks, under every green tree; that slay the children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?  

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  Among the smooth [stones] of the valley is thy portion; they, they are thy lot; even to them hast thou poured a drink-offering, thou hast offered an oblation. Shall I be appeased for these things?  

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  Upon a high and lofty mountain hast thou set thy bed; thither also wentest thou up to offer sacrifice.  

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  And behind the doors and the posts hast thou set up thy memorial: for thou hast uncovered [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.  

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  And thou wentest to the king with oil, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thine ambassadors far off, and didst debase thyself even unto Sheol.  

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  Thou wast wearied with the length of thy way; yet saidst thou not, It is in vain: thou didst find a quickening of thy strength; therefore thou wast not faint.  

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  And of whom hast thou been afraid and in fear, that thou liest, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of long time, and thou fearest me not?  

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

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  When thou criest, let them that thou hast gathered deliver thee; but the wind shall take them, a breath shall carry them all away: but he that taketh refuge in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain.  

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  And he will say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumbling-block out of the way of my people.  

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  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.  

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  For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth; for the spirit would faint before me, and the souls that I have made.  

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  For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him; I hid [my face] and was wroth; and he went on backsliding in the way of his heart.  

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

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

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  But the wicked are like the troubled sea; for it cannot rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt.  

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

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