Isaiah 57

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.

The righteous perish, and no one lays it to heart. Merciful men are taken away, and no one considers that the righteous is taken away from the evil.

2 Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest, lying down in death.

He enters into peace. They rest in their beds, each one who walks in his uprightness.

3 “But come here, you sons of a sorceress, you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes!

“But draw near 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,

Whom do you mock? Against whom do you make a wide mouth and stick out your tongue? Are not you children of disobedience and offspring of falsehood,

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?

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 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?

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 hill you have made your bed, and there you went up to offer sacrifices.

On a high and lofty mountain you have set your bed. You also went up there to offer sacrifice.

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.

You have set up your memorial behind the doors and the posts, for you have exposed yourself to someone besides me, and have gone up. You have enlarged your bed and made you a covenant with them. You loved what you saw on their bed.

9 You went to Molech with oil and multiplied your perfumes. You have sent your envoys a great distance; you have descended even to Sheol itself. (Sheol h7585)

You went to the king with oil, increased your perfumes, sent your ambassadors far off, and degraded yourself even to Sheol (Sheol h7585).

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.

You were wearied with the length of your ways; yet you did not say, ‘It is in vain.’ You found a reviving of your strength; therefore you were not faint.

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?

“Whom have you dreaded and feared, so that you lie, and have not remembered me, nor laid it to your heart? Have not I held my peace for a long time, and you do not fear me?

12 I will expose your righteousness and your works, and they will not profit you.

I will declare your righteousness; and as for your works, they will not benefit 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.”

When you cry, let those whom you have gathered deliver you, but the wind will take them. A breath will carry them all away, but he who takes refuge in me will possess the land, and will inherit my holy mountain.”

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.”

He will say, “Build up, build up, prepare the way! Remove the stumbling-block 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.

For the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy, says: “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 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.

For I will not contend forever, neither will I always be angry; for the spirit would faint before me, and the souls whom 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.

I was angry because of the iniquity of his covetousness 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, but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him and his mourners,

I have seen his ways, and will heal him. I will lead him also, and restore comforts to him and to his mourners.

19 bringing praise to their lips. Peace, peace to those far and near,” says the LORD, “and I will heal them.”

I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace, to him who is far off and to him who is 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.

But the wicked are like the troubled sea; for it cannot rest and its waters cast up mire and mud.

21 “There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”

“There is no peace”, says my God, “for the wicked.”