CHAPTER 57
1 A just [or rightwise] man perisheth, and none is that thinketh in his heart; and men of mercy be gathered together, for none there is that understandeth; for why a just [or rightwise] man is gathered from the face of malice.
2 Peace come, rest he in his bed, that went in his addressing.
3 But ye, sons of the seeker of false divining by chittering of birds, nigh hither, the seed of adulteress, and of a whore.
4 On whom scorned ye? on whom made ye great the mouth, and putted out the tongue? Whether ye be not cursed sons, a seed of leasings?
5 which be comforted in gods, under each tree full of boughs, and offer little children in strands [or streams], under high stones.
6 Thy part is in the parts of the strand [or stream], this is thy part; and to them thou sheddest [or pourest] out moist [or liquor] offering, thou offeredest sacrifice. Whether I shall not have indignation on these things?
7 Thou puttedest thy bed on an high hill and enhanced, and thither thou ascendedest to offer sacrifices;
8 and thou settedest thy memorial behind the door, and behind the post. For besides me, thou uncoveredest thee, and tookest [the] adulterer; thou alargedest thy bed, and madest a bond of peace with them; thou lovedest the bed of them with open hand,
9 and adornedest thee with [the] king’s ointment, and thou multipliedest thy pigments; thou sentest far thy messengers, and thou art made low till to hells [or hell].
10 Thou travailedest in the multitude of thy ways, and saidest not, I shall rest; thou hast found the way of thine hand, therefore thou prayedest not.
11 For what thing dreadedest thou busy, for thou liedest, and thoughtest not on me? And thou thoughtest not in thine heart, that I am still, and as not seeing; and thou hast forgotten me.
12 I shall tell [out] thy rightfulness [or rightwiseness], and thy works shall not profit to thee.
13 When thou shalt cry, thy gathered treasures deliver thee; and the wind shall take away all them, a blast shall do away them; but he that hath trust on me, shall inherit the land, and shall have in possession mine holy hill [or holy mountain].
14 And I shall say, Make ye way, give ye journey, bow ye from the path, do ye away hurtings from the way of my people.
15 For the Lord high, and enhanced, saith these things, that dwelleth in everlastingness, and his holy name in high place, and that dwelleth in holy-ness, and with a contrite, either full sorry, and meek spirit, that he quicken the spirit of meek men, and quicken the heart of contrite men.
16 For I shall not strive without end, neither I shall be wroth till to the end; for why a spirit shall go out from my face, and I shall make blasts.
17 I was wroth for the wickedness of his avarice, and I smote him. I hid my face from thee, and I had indignation; and he went without steadfast dwelling, in the way of his heart.
18 I saw his ways, and I healed him, and I brought him again; and I gave comfortings to him, and to the mourners of him.
19 I made the fruit of lips peace, peace to him that is far, and to him that is nigh, said the Lord; and I healed him.
20 But wicked men be as the boiling sea, that may not rest; and the waves thereof float again into defouling, and fen.
21 The Lord God said, Peace is not to wicked men.