Isaiah:57

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* The righteous perishes and no man takes it to heart . Merciful men are taken away , while no one considers that the righteous is taken away from evil . * He will enter into peace . The honorable and honest will rest in his bed . * »But come here , you sons of the witch , you offspring of the adulterer and the prostitute ! * With whom are you effeminate ? With whom do you open wide your mouth and offer your tongue ? Are you not children of transgression , offspring of falsehood and deceit ? * Are you inflaming yourselves with gods under every green tree , slaying the children in the valleys , under the clefts of the rocks ? * »Is your portion among the smooth stones of the stream ? They indeed are your lot ! Even to them you have poured a drink offering . You have offered a grain offering . Should this give me comfort ? * »You placed your bed on a lofty and high mountain . Even there you went up to offer sacrifice . * »You ordained your memorial behind the doors and their posts . You revealed yourself to those other than me . You went to them . You enlarged your bed and made a covenant with them . You have loved their bed , where you saw their naked manhood . * »You went to the king with ointment and much perfume . You sent your messengers far off , and descended even to the grave . * »You are wearied because of the length of your trip . Yet you did not say : I give up . There is no hope . You have found the renewal of your strength . Therefore you were not grieved . * »Who frightened you ? Who made you afraid , that you have lied and not remembered me ? You did not take it to your heart . Is it not because I have held my peace from of old that you do not reverence me ? * »I will declare your righteousness and your works , yet they will not profit you . * »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 he who puts his trust in me shall possess the land , and shall inherit my holy mountain . * »‘One will say : ‘Heap it up ! Heap it up ! Prepare the way ; Take the stumbling block out of the way of my people .’« * The High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity , whose name is holy , says : ‘I dwell in the high and holy and also with him who has a contrite and humble spirit . I revive the spirit of the humble , and the heart of the contrite ones .’ * For I will not contend forever ! Nor will I always be angry ! The spirit would fail before me , and those whom I have made . * Because of the iniquity of his covetousness gain I was angry and struck him . I hid and was angry . He went on backsliding in the way of his heart . * I have seen his ways , and will heal him . I will also lead him , and restore comforts to him and to his mourners . * I create the fruit of the lips : Peace , peace to the near and the far off , says Jehovah , and I will heal him . * But the wicked are like the troubled and restless sea , whose waters cast up mire and dirt . * My God has said : »There is no peace for the wicked .«

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