Isaiah 57

1 The upright man goes to his death, and no one gives a thought to it; and god-fearing men are taken away, and no one is troubled by it; for the upright man is taken away because of evil-doing, and goes into peace.

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 They are at rest in their last resting-places, every one going straight before him.

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

3 But come near, you sons of her who is wise in secret arts, the seed of her who is false to her husband, and of the loose woman.

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

4 Of whom do you make sport? against whom is your mouth open wide and your tongue put out? are you not uncontrolled children, a false seed,

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

5 You who are burning with evil desire among the oaks, under every green tree; putting children to death in the valleys, under the cracks of the rocks?

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 Among the smooth stones of the valley is your heritage; they, even they, are your part: even to them have you made a drink offering and a meal offering. Is it possible for such things to be overlooked by me?

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 You have put your bed on a high mountain: there you went up to make your offering.

On a high and lofty hill you have made your bed, and there you went up to offer sacrifices.

8 And on the back of the doors and on the pillars you have put your sign: for you have been false to me with another; you have made your bed wide, and made an agreement with them; you had a desire for their bed where you saw it

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 And you went to Melech with oil and much perfume, and you sent your representatives far off, and went as low as the underworld. (Sheol h7585)

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)

10 You were tired with your long journeys; but you did not say, There is no hope: you got new strength, and so you were not feeble.

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 And of whom were you in fear, so that you were false, and did not keep me in mind, or give thought to it? Have I not been quiet, keeping myself secret, and so you were not in fear of me?

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 make clear what your righteousness is like and your works; you will have no profit in them.

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

13 Your false gods will not keep you safe in answer to your cry; but the wind will take them, they will be gone like a breath: but he who puts his hope in me will take the land, and will have my holy mountain as his heritage.

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.”

14 And I will say, Make it high, make it high, get ready the way, take the stones out of the way of my people.

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 this is the word of him who is high and lifted up, whose resting-place is eternal, whose name is Holy: my resting-place is in the high and holy place, and with him who is crushed and poor in spirit, to give life to the spirit of the poor, and to make strong the heart of the crushed.

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 give punishment for ever, or be angry without end: for from me breath goes out; and I it was who made the souls.

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 quickly angry with his evil ways, and sent punishment on him, veiling my face in wrath: and he went on, turning his heart from me.

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, and I will make him well: I will give him rest, comforting him and his people who are sad.

I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him and his mourners,

19 I will give the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace, to him who is near and to him who is far off, says the Lord; and I will make him well.

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

20 But the evil-doers are like the troubled sea, for which there is no rest, and its waters send up earth and waste.

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 evil-doers.

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