The Blessed Death of the Righteous
(1 Corinthians 15:50-58)
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.
2He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.
God Condemns Idolatry
3But 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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
13When 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;
Healing for the Repentant
(Jeremiah 3:11-25; Hosea 14:1-3; Zechariah 1:1-6)
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.
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.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
The Blessed Death of the Righteous
1 The righteous perishes, and no man lays it to heart; and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil.
2 He enters into peace; they rest in their beds, each one who walks in his uprightness.
God Condemns Idolatry
3 “But draw near here, you sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the prostitute.
4 Against whom do you sport yourselves? Against whom do you make a wide mouth, and stick out your tongue? Aren’t you children of disobedience, a seed of falsehood,
5 you who inflame yourselves among the oaks, under every green tree; who kill the children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?
6 Among the smooth stones of the valley is your portion; they, they are your lot; you have even poured a drink offering to them. You have offered an offering. Shall I be appeased for these things?
7 On a high and lofty mountain you have set your bed; there also you went up to offer sacrifice.
8 Behind the doors and the posts you have set up your memorial: for you have uncovered to someone besides me, and have gone up; you have enlarged your bed, and made you a covenant with them: you loved their bed where you saw it.
9 You went to the king with oil, and increased your perfumes, and sent your ambassadors far off, and debased yourself even to Sheol.
10 You were wearied with the length of your way; yet you didn’t say, ‘It is in vain.’ You found a reviving of your strength; therefore you weren’t faint.
11 “Of whom have you been afraid and in fear, that you lie, and have not remembered me, nor laid it to your heart? Haven’t I held my peace even of long time, and you don’t fear me?
12 I will declare your righteousness; and as for your works, they shall not profit you.
13 When you cry, let those who you have gathered deliver you; but the wind shall take them, a breath shall carry them all away: but he who takes refuge in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain.”
Healing for the Repentant
14 He will say, “Cast up, cast up, prepare the way, take up the stumbling-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 place, with him also who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
16 For I will not contend forever, neither will I be always angry; for the spirit would faint before me, and the souls who I have made.
17 For the iniquity of his covetousness was I angry, and struck him; I hid myself and was angry; and he went on backsliding in the way of his heart.
18 I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts to him and to his mourners.
19 I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace, to him who is far off and to him who is near,” says Yahweh; “and I will heal them.”
20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea; for it can’t rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt.
21 “There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”
The Blessed Death of the Righteous
1 The righteous perish,
and no one takes it to heart;
devout men are swept away,
while no one considers
that the righteous are guided
from the presence of evil.
2 Those who walk uprightly enter into peace;
they find rest, lying down in death.
God Condemns Idolatry
3 “But come here, you sons of a sorceress,
you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes!
4 Whom are you mocking?
At whom do you snarl and stick out your tongue?
Are you not children of transgression,
offspring of deceit,
5 who burn with lust among the oaks,
under every luxuriant tree,
who slaughter your children in the valleys,
under the clefts of the rocks?
6 Your portion is among the smooth stones of the valley;
indeed, they are your lot.
Even to them you have poured out a drink offering
and offered a grain offering.
Should I relent because of these?
7 On a high and lofty hill you have made your bed,
and there you went up to offer sacrifices.
8 Behind the door and doorpost
you have set up your memorial.
Forsaking Me, you uncovered your bed;
you climbed up and opened it wide.
And you have made a pact with those whose bed you have loved;
you have gazed upon their nakedness.
9 You went to Molech a with oil
and multiplied your perfumes.
You have sent your envoys b a great distance;
you have descended even to Sheol itself.
10 You are wearied by your many journeys,
but you did not say, “There is no hope!”
You found renewal of your strength;
therefore you did not grow weak.
11 Whom have you dreaded and feared,
so that you lied and failed
to remember Me or take this to heart?
Is it not because I have long been silent
that you do not fear Me?
12 I will expose your righteousness and your works,
and they will not profit you.
13 When you cry out,
let your companies of idols deliver you!
Yet the wind will carry off all of them,
a breath will take them away.
But he who seeks refuge in Me will inherit the land
and possess My holy mountain.”
Healing for the Repentant
14 And it will be said,
“Build it up, build it up, prepare the way,
take every obstacle out of the way of My people.”
15 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,
who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
“I dwell in a high and holy place,
and with the oppressed and humble in spirit,
to restore the spirit of the lowly
and revive the heart of the contrite.
16 For I will not accuse you forever,
nor will I always be angry;
for then the spirit of man would grow weak before Me,
with the breath of those I have made.
17 I was enraged by his sinful greed,
so I struck him and hid My face in anger;
yet he kept turning back
to the desires of his heart.
18 I have seen his ways,
but I will heal him;
I will guide him and restore comfort
to him and his mourners,
19 bringing praise to their lips.
Peace, peace to those far and near,” says the LORD,
“and I will heal them.”
20 But the wicked are like the storm-tossed sea,
for it cannot be still,
and its waves churn up mire and muck.
21 “There is no peace,” says my God,
“for the wicked.”
Footnotes:
9 a Or to the king
9 b Or idols
The Blessed Death of the Righteous
(1 Corinthians 15:50-58)
1The righteous hath perished, And there is none laying it to heart, And men of kindness are gathered, Without any considering that from the face of evil Gathered is the righteous one.
2He entereth into peace, they rest on their beds, Each is going straightforward.
God Condemns Idolatry
3And ye, come near hither, O sons of a sorceress, seed of an adulterer, Even thou dost commit whoredom.
4Against whom do ye sport yourselves? Against whom enlarge ye the mouth? Prolong ye the tongue? Are not ye children of transgression? a false seed?
5Who are inflamed among oaks, under every green tree, Slaughtering the children in valleys, Under clefts of the rocks.
6Among the smooth things of a brook is thy portion, They -- they are thy lot, Also to them thou hast poured out an oblation, Thou hast caused a present to ascend, For these things am I comforted?
7On a mountain, high and exalted, Thou hast set thy couch, Also thither thou hast gone up to make a sacrifice.
8And behind the door, and the post, Thou hast set up thy memorial, For from Me thou hast removed, and goest up, Thou hast enlarged thy couch, And dost covenant for thyself among them, Thou hast loved their couch, the station thou sawest,
9And goest joyfully to the king in ointment, And dost multiply thy perfumes, And sendest thine ambassadors afar off, And humblest thyself unto Sheol.
10In the greatness of thy way thou hast laboured, Thou hast not said, 'It is desperate.' The life of thy hand thou hast found, Therefore thou hast not been sick.
11And of whom hast thou been afraid, and fearest, That thou liest, and Me hast not remembered? Thou hast not laid it to thy heart, Am not I silent, even from of old? And Me thou fearest not?
12I declare thy righteousness, and thy works, And they do not profit thee.
13When thou criest, let thy gatherings deliver thee, And all of them carry away doth wind, Take away doth vanity, And whoso is trusting in Me inheriteth the land, And doth possess My holy mountain.
Healing for the Repentant
(Jeremiah 3:11-25; Hosea 14:1-3; Zechariah 1:1-6)
14And he hath said, 'Raise up, raise up, prepare a way, Lift a stumbling-block out of the way of My people.'
15For thus said the high and exalted One, Inhabiting eternity, and holy is His name: 'In the high and holy place I dwell, And with the bruised and humble of spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of bruised ones,'
16For, not to the age do I strive, nor for ever am I wroth, For the spirit from before Me is feeble, And the souls I have made.
17For the iniquity of his dishonest gain, I have been wroth, and I smite him, Hiding -- and am wroth, And he goeth on turning back in the way of his heart.
18His ways I have seen, and I heal him, yea, I lead him, And recompense comforts to him and to his mourning ones.
19Producing the fruit of the lips, 'Peace, peace,' to the far off, and to the near, And I have healed him, said Jehovah.
20And the wicked are as the driven out sea, For to rest it is not able, And its waters cast out filth and mire.
21There is no peace, said my God, to the wicked!
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