1The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.57.1 merciful…: Heb. men of kindness, or, godliness57.1 from…: or, from that which is evil 2He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.57.2 enter into: or, go in57.2 in his…: or, before him
3¶ But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the whore. 4Against whom do ye sport yourselves? against whom make ye a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue? are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood, 5Enflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys under the clifts of the rocks?57.5 with…: or, among the oaks 6Among the smooth stones of the stream is thy portion; they, they are thy lot: even to them hast thou poured a drink offering, thou hast offered a meat offering. Should I receive comfort in these? 7Upon a lofty and high mountain hast thou set thy bed: even thither wentest thou up to offer sacrifice. 8Behind the doors also and the posts hast thou set up thy remembrance: for thou hast discovered thyself to another than me, and art gone up; thou hast enlarged thy bed, and made thee a covenant with them; thou lovedst their bed where thou sawest it.57.8 made…: or, hewed it for thyself larger than theirs57.8 where…: or, thou providedst room 9And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase thyself even unto hell.57.9 thou…: or, thou respectedst 10Thou art wearied in the greatness of thy way; yet saidst thou not, There is no hope: thou hast found the life of thine hand; therefore thou wast not grieved.57.10 life: or, living 11And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not? 12I will declare thy righteousness, and thy works; for they shall not profit thee.
13¶ When thou criest, let thy companies deliver thee; but the wind shall carry them all away; vanity shall take them: but he that putteth his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain; 14And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people. 15For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. 16For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.
17For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart.57.17 frowardly: Heb. turning away 18I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners. 19I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him. 20But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. 21There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.
Israels umoral og afgudsdyrkelse
1Gode mennesker går til grunde, uden at nogen griber ind. Retskafne rives bort før tiden, og ingen lægger mærke til det. Det er på grund af ondskaben, at de lider den skæbne. 2Men de hviler i fred i deres grave, for de levede i lydighed mod Gud.
3Herren siger: „Hør engang, I horeunger og hekseyngel! 4Hvor tør I gøre nar af mig? I rækker tunge og laver grimasser. I er fulde af løgn og synd. 5I kommer i ekstase ved jeres orgier i offerlundene. I slagter jeres egne børn, ofrer mennesker i dalene og i kløfter mellem klipperne. 6I har valgt at dyrke guder af sten i stedet for mig, og I bringer dem drikofre og afgrødeofre. Skal jeg finde mig i det? 7-8I udstiller åbenlyst jeres utroskab imod mig ved at ofre til afguderne på højene. Men også bag hjemmets vægge har I opstillet jeres afguder. I har vendt mig ryggen og overgivet jer til dem med hud og hår. I har prostitueret jer selv. I betaler til afguderne for at tilfredsstille jeres lyst med dem. 9I ofrer parfume og vellugtende olier til Molok, mens I søger med lys og lygte efter nye afguder overalt—ja, selv blandt de døde. 10I er udmattede af at søge, men I giver alligevel ikke op. Tanken om nye afguder giver jer styrke til at fortsætte. 11Hvorfor er I mere bange for dem end for mig? Hvorfor er I utro mod mig og lever på en løgn? Hvorfor har I glemt mig? Er det, fordi jeg stiltiende har båret over med jer så længe?
12Lad mig sige jer en ting: Jeres afgudsdyrkelse vil ikke gavne jer. 13Når I råber om hjælp, så lad jeres guder redde jer! De er selv så hjælpeløse, at et vindstød kan vælte dem omkuld. Men den, der søger hjælp hos mig, skal få landet og mit hellige bjerg i eje.
Gud vil genoprette sit folk
14Jeg, Herren, siger: Ban vej! Ban vej for mit folk! Ryd sten og forhindringer af vejen, hvor mit folk skal gå.”
15Den evige og højhellige Gud siger: „Jeg er hellig, jeg bor i det høje. Men jeg bor også hos mennesker med ydmyge og sønderknuste hjerter. Jeg trøster dem og heler deres brudte hjerter. 16Jeg vil ikke blive ved at være vred på mit folk og anklage dem, for så ville de miste livsmodet og give op. 17Jeg blev vred over deres grådighed og skjulte mig for dem, men de fremturede bare i deres synd og fortsatte med at gøre, som de ville. 18Jeg har set deres elendighed og frafald, men nu vil jeg genoprette dem. Jeg vil trøste dem, der sørger over deres synd. 19Jeg tilbyder fred til alle, både fjern og nær, for jeg vil føre mit folk hjem. 20Men de gudløse, som forkaster mig, er som et oprørt hav, der ikke kan falde til ro, men skyller mudder og snavs op på stranden.”
21De gudløse har ingen fred, siger min Gud.
