(KJV) Isaiah 57¹

⥃The Blessed Death of the Righteous

[1] The righteous² perisheth, and no man³ layeth [it] to heart: and merciful men⁴ [are] taken away, none considering that the righteous⁵ is taken away from the evil [to come⁶]. [2] He shall⁷ enter into⁸ peace: they shall rest⁹ in their beds, [each one] walking [in] his uprightness¹⁰.

⥃God Condemns Idolatry

[3] But draw¹¹ near hither, ye sons¹² of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the whore. [4] Against¹³ whom do ye sport¹⁴ yourselves? against whom make¹⁵ ye a wide mouth, [and] draw¹⁶ out the tongue? [are] ye¹⁷ not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood, [5] Enflaming¹⁸ yourselves with idols¹⁹ under²⁰ every green tree, slaying²¹ the children in the valleys under the clifts of the rocks? [6] Among the smooth²² [stones] of the stream [is] thy portion; they, they [are] thy lot: even to them²³ hast thou poured a drink offering, thou hast offered a meat offering. Should²⁴ 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.²⁵ [8] Behind the doors²⁶ also and the posts hast thou set up thy remembrance: for²⁷ thou hast discovered [thyself to another] than me, and art gone up; thou hast enlarged thy bed, and made thee [a covenant] with them²⁸; thou lovedst²⁹ their bed where thou sawest [it³⁰]. [9] And thou wentest to the king³¹ with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes³², and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase³³ [thyself even] unto hell. [10] Thou art wearied³⁴ in the greatness of thy way; [yet] saidst thou not, There is³⁵ no hope: thou hast found the life³⁶ of thine hand; therefore³⁷ thou wast not grieved. [11] And of whom³⁸ hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou³⁹ hast lied, and hast⁴⁰ not remembered me, nor⁴¹ laid [it] to thy heart? have not⁴² 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.⁴³

[13] When thou criest, let⁴⁴ thy companies deliver thee; but the⁴⁵ wind shall carry them all away; vanity shall take [them]: but he⁴⁶ that putteth his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy⁴⁷ mountain;

⥃Healing for the Repentant

[14] And shall say, Cast⁴⁸ ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take⁴⁹ up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people. [15] For thus saith the high⁵⁰ and lofty One that inhabiteth⁵¹ eternity, whose⁵² name [is] Holy; I dwell⁵³ in the high and holy [place], with⁵⁴ him also [that is] of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit⁵⁵ of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. [16] For I will not⁵⁶ contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls⁵⁷ [which] I have made. [17] For the iniquity⁵⁸ of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid⁵⁹ me, and was wroth, and he⁶⁰ went on frowardly⁶¹ in the⁶² way of his heart. [18] I have⁶³ seen his ways, and will heal⁶⁴ him: I will lead⁶⁵ him also, and restore⁶⁶ comforts unto him and to his⁶⁷ mourners. [19] I create⁶⁸ the fruit⁶⁹ of the lips; Peace⁷⁰, 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] like⁷¹ 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. ⁷²