Isaiah 57

1 The just man perishes, and there is no one who acknowledges it in his heart; and men of mercy are taken away, for there is no one who understands. For the just man has been taken away before the face of malice.

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 Let peace arrive. Let he who has walked in his righteousness find rest on his bed.

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

3 But come here, you sons of the prophetess, you offspring of an adulterous man and a fornicating woman.

"But draw near here, you sons of the sorceress, offspring of an adulterer and a prostitute.

4 Whom are you mocking? Against whom have you opened your mouth wide and wagged your tongue? Are you not sons of wickedness, a lying offspring,

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 are being consoled by idols under every leafy tree, immolating little children at the torrents, under the high 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 in the currents of the torrent; this is your lot! And you yourselves have poured out libations to them; you have offered sacrifice. Should I not be angry over these things?

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 Upon a high and lofty mountain, you have placed your bed, and you have ascended to that place to immolate victims.

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

8 And behind the door, and beyond the post, you have set up your memorial. For you uncovered yourself next to me, and you received an adulterer. You widened your bed, and you formed a pact with them. You loved their bed with an open hand.

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 And you have adorned yourself for the king with ointments, and you have increased your cosmetics. You have sent your representatives to distant places, and you have debased yourself all the way to Hell. (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 have been wearied by the multitude of your own ways. Yet you did not say, “I will cease.” You have found life by your own hand; because of this, you have not prayed.

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 For whose sake have you been anxiously afraid, so that you would lie and not be mindful of me, nor consider me in your heart? For I am silent, and I am like someone who does not see, and so you have forgotten 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 announce your justice, and your works will not benefit you.

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

13 When you cry out, let your followers free you. But the wind will carry them all away; a breeze will take them up. But he who has faith in me will inherit the earth and will 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 I will say: “Make way! Grant passage! Move to the side of the path! Take the obstacles 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 this is said by the Most High, the Sublime One, who dwells in eternity. And his name is Holy, for he dwells in the exalted and holy place, and he acts with a restrained and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to 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 contend unceasingly, and I will not be angry to the end. For I will exhale my breath, and the Spirit will go forth from my face.

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 Because of the iniquity of his avarice, I was angry, and I struck him down. I concealed my face from you, and I was angry. And he went astray by wandering in 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 saw his ways, and I healed him, and I led him back again, and I restored consolations to him and to those who mourn for him.

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 created the fruit of the lips: peace, peace to him who is far away, and peace to him who is near, said the Lord, and I healed him.

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 impious are like the raging sea, which is not able to be quieted, and its waves stir up dirt and mud.

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 for the impious, says the Lord God.

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