Israel’s Futile Idolatry

57 The righteous perishes,

And no man takes it to heart;

aMerciful men are taken away,

bWhile no one considers

That the righteous is taken away from 1evil.

2 He shall enter into peace;

They shall rest in ctheir beds,

Each one walking in his uprightness.

3 “But come here,

dYou sons of the sorceress,

You offspring of the adulterer and the harlot!

4 Whom do you ridicule?

Against whom do you make a wide mouth

And stick out the tongue?

Are you not children of transgression,

Offspring of falsehood,

5 Inflaming yourselves with gods eunder every green tree,

fSlaying the children in the valleys,

Under the clefts of the rocks?

6 Among the smooth gstones of the stream

Is your portion;

They, they, are your lot!

Even to them you have poured a drink offering,

You have offered a grain offering.

Should I receive comfort in hthese?

7 “On ia lofty and high mountain

You have set jyour bed;

Even there you went up

To offer sacrifice.

8 Also behind the doors and their posts

You have set up your remembrance;

For you have uncovered yourself to those other than Me,

And have gone up to them;

You have enlarged your bed

And 2made a covenant with them;

kYou have loved their bed,

Where you saw their 3nudity.

9 lYou went to the king with ointment,

And increased your perfumes;

You sent your mmessengers far off,

And even descended to Sheol.

10 You are wearied in the length of your way;

nYet you did not say, ‘There is no hope.’

You have found the life of your hand;

Therefore you were not grieved.

11 “And oof 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 pI have 4held My peace from of old

That you do 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 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.”