Isaiah 57
1 Good people die, and nobody cares; the faithful pass away, and nobody thinks that they were being protected from evil.
The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and pious men are taken away, without one considering that before the evil the righteous is taken away.
2 Those who follow what's right rest in peace; they find rest as they lie down in death.
He shall come [to his fathers] in peace: they shall repose in their resting-place, every one that walketh in his uprightness.
3 But as for you, children of fortune-tellers, the product of adultery and prostitution—come here!
But ye draw near hither, sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the harlot.
4 Who are you making fun of when you make sneering faces and stick out your tongues? Aren't you the children of sin and lies?
Over whom will you make yourselves merry? concerning whom will you open wide your mouth, stretch out your tongue? are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood,
5 You're the ones having pagan orgies under the oak trees, under every green tree. You sacrifice your children in the valleys and among the rocky peaks.
That are inflamed after the idols under every green tree; that slaughter the children in the valleys under the clefts of the rocks?
6 You have chosen to worship the smooth stones from the streams of the valleys—that's the choice you've made! You have poured out drink offerings to these idols—you have presented them with grain offerings. Should that make me happy?
Of the smooth stones of the valley is thy portion; they, they are thy lot: even to them hast thou poured out a drink-offering, hast thou offered a meat-offering. Shall I for these things repent me [of the evil]?
7 You have committed adultery by idol worship on every high mountain; you went there to offer pagan sacrifices.
Upon a high and lofty mountain hast thou placed thy couch: even thither wentest thou up to offer sacrifice.
8 You've placed your pagan signs behind your doors and on your doorposts. Deserting me, you took off your clothes and climbed into bed, committing yourselves to those you love to be in bed with. You've seen them naked.
And behind the doors and the door-posts hast thou placed thy [mark of] remembrance; for [departing] from me, thou hast laid open, and art gone up, —hast enlarged thy couch, and made thee a covenant with some of them; thou hast loved their lying with thee, hast selected a fitting place.
9 You went to offer Molech olive oil, covering yourself with many perfumes. You sent your messengers to distant places; you even went down into the world of the dead. (Sheol h7585)
And thou didst show thyself unto the king without ointment, and thou didst multiply thy perfumes, and thou didst send out thy messengers even into the far-off distance, and didst debase thyself even down to the nether world. (Sheol h7585)
10 You wore yourselves out by such running around, but you didn't give up and say, “It's hopeless!” You found new strength and so didn't become weak.
Though thou art wearied by the length of thy way, yet saidst thou not, It is useless: thou hadst found enough for thy hand; therefore didst thou feel no care.
11 Who were you scared of, who frightened you so much that you lied to me, didn't remember me, didn't even think about me? Is it because I've been quiet for so long that you don't even fear me?
And of whom hadst thou dread or fear, that thou becamest false, and didst not remember me, nor lay it to thy heart? is it not so? I kept silence, and this from earliest times, and therefore thou fearest me not!
12 I'm going to let everyone know about how you're so good and the things you do—but they won't help you!
I, I ever tell thee [what deeds would be] thy righteousness; but thy works—these indeed will not profit thee.
13 When you cry out for help, let's see if your collection of idols will save you! The wind will blow them all away, just a breath and they're gone! But whoever comes to me for help will own the land and possess my holy mountain.
When thou criest, let thy masses of idols deliver thee; but all of them will the wind carry away, a breath will take them off; but he that putteth his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain.
14 He will say, Build a highway, remove anything that's in the way of my people.
And he will say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, clear out the way, lift up every stumbling block out of the way of my people.
15 This is what the one who is high above all says, he who lives in eternity, whose name is holy: I live in a high and holy place, together with those who repent and who act humbly, restoring their spirits and encouraging them.
For thus hath said the high and lofty One, who inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy, In the high and holy place do I dwell, yet also with the contrite and humble of spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
16 I won't fight with you forever; I won't be angry with you forever. Otherwise you'd lose heart, the very people I gave life to.
For not to eternity will I contend, neither will I be for ever wroth: when the spirit from before me is overwhelmed, and the souls which I have made.
17 Yes, I was angry with these sinful, greedy people so I punished them. I was angry, so I hid myself from them, but they went on their own rebellious way, doing whatever they wanted.
Because of the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and I smote him, hiding my face, and was wroth: while he went on frowardly in the way of his own heart.
18 I know what they're doing, but I will heal them. I will lead them and comfort those who mourn,
I [now] see his ways, and I will heal him; and I will guide him, and bestow full comforts on him and on his mourners;
19 so they will able to say thankyou. The Lord declares, Peace, peace, to those who are far away and those who are near. I will heal you.
Creating the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace to him that is afar off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord; and I will heal him.
20 But the wicked are like the sea that is tossed about, never keeping still, churning up the mud and muck with its waves.
But the wicked are like the troubled sea; for it can never be at rest, but its waters cast up mire and dirt.
21 There's no peace for the wicked, says my God.
There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.
