Isaiah 57
1 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 to come.
Good people die, and nobody cares; the faithful pass away, and nobody thinks that they were being protected from evil.
2 He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.
Those who follow what's right rest in peace; they find rest as they lie down in death.
3 But draw near here, all of you sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the whore.
But as for you, children of fortune-tellers, the product of adultery and prostitution—come here!
4 Against whom do all of you sport yourselves? against whom make all of you a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue? are all of you not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood.
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?
5 Enflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys under the clefts of the rocks?
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.
6 Among the smooth stones of the stream is your portion; they, they are your lot: even to them have you poured a drink offering, you have offered a food offering. Should I receive comfort in these?
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?
7 Upon a lofty and high mountain have you set your bed: even thither went you up to offer sacrifice.
You have committed adultery by idol worship on every high mountain; you went there to offer pagan sacrifices.
8 Behind the doors also and the posts have you set up your remembrance: for you have discovered yourself to another than me, and are gone up; you have enlarged your bed, and made you a covenant with them; you loved their bed where you saw it.
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.
9 And you went to the king with ointment, and did increase your perfumes, and did send your messengers far off, and did debase yourself even unto hell. (Sheol h7585)
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)
10 You are wearied in the greatness of your way; yet said you not, There is no hope: you have found the life of your hand; therefore you were not grieved.
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.
11 And of whom have you been afraid or feared, that you have lied, and have not remembered me, nor laid it to your heart? have not I held my peace even of old, and you fear me not?
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?
12 I will declare your righteousness, and your works; for they shall not profit you.
I'm going to let everyone know about how you're so good and the things you do—but they won't help you!
13 When you cry, let your companies deliver you; but the wind shall carry them all away; vanity shall take them: but he that puts his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain;
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.
14 And shall say, Cast all of you up, cast all of you up, prepare the way, take up the stumbling block out of the way of my people.
He will say, Build a highway, remove anything that's in the way of my people.
15 For thus says the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
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.
16 For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always angry: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.
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.
17 For the iniquity of his covetousness was I angry, and stroke him: I hid me, and was angry, and he went on perversely in the way of his heart.
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.
18 I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.
I know what they're doing, but I will heal them. I will lead them and comfort those who mourn,
19 I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, says the LORD; and I will heal him.
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.
20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
But the wicked are like the sea that is tossed about, never keeping still, churning up the mud and muck with its waves.
21 There is no peace, says my God, to the wicked.
There's no peace for the wicked, says my God.
