Charles Spurgeon Commentary Isaiah 57:12

"I will declare thy righteousness; and as for thy works, they shall not profit thee." — Isaiah 57:12 (ASV)

I will declare your righteousness, and your works; for they shall not profit you.

If God ever takes the self-righteous man's righteousness, and explains what it really is, he will soon reveal to its owner that it is a mere delusion and sham that will not profit him at all.

I will declare your righteousness, and your works; for they shall not profit you.

They said, "Why, we are very righteous. Do we not have a god in every corner? As for our works, we have plenty of them. Do we not have temples built everywhere, and altars set up on every hill and in every valley?" "Yes," says God, "such is your righteousness."

"They shall not profit you."