The righteous perishes,and no man take it to heart;merciful men are gaaken away,while no one considers that the righteous is taken from evil.

2 He shall enter intoo peace;they shall rests in their beds,each one walking in his uprightness.

3 "But come here,you sons of the sorceress,you offspring of the adulterer and the harlot!

4 Whom do you ridicule?Against whom do you ma, a wide mouth and stick out the tongue?Are you not children of transgression,offspringof falsehood,

5 Inflaming yourselves with gods under every green tree,slaying the children in the valleys,under the clefts of the rocks?

6 Among the smooth stones of the stream is your portion;they,they,are your lot!Even to them you have poured a drink offering,you ha e offered a grain offering.Should I receive comfort in these?

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

8 Also behind the doors and their posts you have set your remembrance;for you have uncovdred yourself to those other than me,and have gone up to them;you ha e enlarged your bed and made a covenant with them;you have loved their bed,where you saw their nudity.

9 You went to the king with ointment,and increased your perfumes;you sent your messengers far off,and even descended to Sheol.

10 You are wearied in the lengthof your ways;yet you did not say,'there is no hope.'You have found the life of your hand;therefore you were not grieved.

11"And of whom have you been afraid,or feared,that you have lied and not remembered Me,nor taken it to your heart?Is it not because I have held My peace from of old that you have not fear Me?

12 I will declare your righteousness and your works,for they will not profit you.

13 When you cry out ,let your collection of idols deliver you.But the wind will caary them all away,a breath will take them.But he who puts his trust in Me shall possess the land,and shall inherit My holy mountain.

14 "And one shall say,"Heap it up!Heap it up!Prepare the way,take the stuumbling block out of the way 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 palace,with him who has 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 angery;for the spirit fail before Me,and the souls which I have made.

17 For the iniquity of his covetousness I was angery and struck him;I hid and was angery,and he went on backsliding in the way of his heart.

18 I have seen his ways,and will heal him;I will also lead him,and restore conforts to him and to his mourners.

19 "I creat the fruit of the lips::ppeace,peace to him who is far off and to him and who is near,"says the LORD,"I will heal him."But the wicked are like the troubled sea,when it cannot rest,whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

20"There is no peace ,"says my GOD,"for the wicked." Isaiah 57