Chapter 57

  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].  

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  He enters into peace; they rest in their beds, each one who walks in his uprightness.  

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

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  Against whom do you sport yourselves? against whom make you a wide mouth, and put out the tongue? Aren't you children of disobedience, a seed of falsehood,  

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  you who inflame yourselves among the oaks, under every green tree; who kill the children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?  

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

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

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  Behind the doors and the posts have you set up your memorial: for you have uncovered [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.  

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  You went to the king with oil, and did increase your perfumes, and did send your ambassadors far off, and did debase yourself even to Sheol.  

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  You were wearied with the length of your way; yet you didn't say, It is in vain: you found a reviving of your strength; therefore you weren't faint.  

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  Of whom have you been afraid and in fear, that you lie, and have not remembered me, nor laid it to your heart? Haven't I held my peace even of long time, and you don't fear me?  

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

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  When you cry, let those who you have gathered deliver you; but the wind shall take them, a breath shall carry them all away: but he who takes refuge in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain.  

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  He will say, Cast you up, cast you up, prepare the way, take up the stumbling-block out of the way of my people.  

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  For thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also who 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 forever, neither will I be always angry; for the spirit would faint before me, and the souls who I have made.  

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  For the iniquity of his covetousness was I angry, and struck him; I hid [my face] and was angry; 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 to him and to his mourners.  

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

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

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

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