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 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 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 the sorceress, offspring of an adulterer and a prostitute.

4 Whom are you mocking? At whom do you snarl and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, offspring of deceit,

Against whom are you mocking? Against whom do you make a wide mouth, and stick out your tongue? Aren't you children of rebellion, offspring of liars,

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; there also you went up 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.

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 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, and increased your perfumes, and sent your ambassadors far off, and debased 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 way; yet you did not say, 'It is in vain.' You found a reviving of your strength; therefore you weren't 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?

"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 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 shall 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.”

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."

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, take up 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 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 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 be always angry; for the spirit would faint before me, and the souls who 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.

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, 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 him."

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 can't rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt.

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

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