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.

The upright perish, and no one lays it to heart. Men of chesed ·loving-kindness· are taken away, and no one considers that the upright is taken away from the evil.

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

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

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

“But draw near here, you sons of a sorceress, you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes.

4 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,

Whom do you mock? Against whom do you make a wide mouth, and stick out your tongue? Are not you children of a rebellious breach of relationship, and offspring of falsehood,

5 you who inflame yourselves among the oaks, under every green tree; who kill the 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 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?

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 mountain you have set your bed; there also you went up to offer sacrifice.

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

8 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.

You have set up your memorial behind the doors and the posts; for you have exposed yourself to someone besides me, and have gone up; you have enlarged your bed, and made you a covenant with them. You 'ahav ·affectionately loved· what you saw on their bed.

9 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)

You went to the king with oil, and increased your perfumes, and sent your ambassadors far off, and degraded yourself even to Sheol ·Place of the dead·. (Sheol h7585)

10 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.

You were wearied with the length of your ways; yet you didn’t say, ‘It is in vain.’ You found a reviving of your strength; therefore you were not faint.

11 "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?

“Whom have you dreaded and feared, so that you lie, and have not remembered me, nor laid it to your heart? Haven’t I held my peace for a long time, and you don’t fear me?

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

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

13 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."

When you cry, let those whom you have gathered deliver you; but the wind will take them. A breath will carry them all away: but he who takes refuge in me will possess the land, and will inherit my holy mountain.”

14 He will say, "Build up, build up, prepare the way, take up the stumbling-block out of the way of my people."

He will say, “Build up, build up, prepare the way! Remove the stumbling-block out of the way of my people.”

15 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.

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 forever, neither will I be always angry; for the spirit would faint before me, and the souls who 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 whom I have made.

17 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.

I was angry because of the depravity (moral evil) of his covetousness, 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, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts to him and to 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 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."

I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace, to him who is far off and to him who is near,” says Adonai; “and I will heal them.”

20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea; for it can't rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt.

But the wicked are like the troubled divorced sea; for it can’t rest, and its waters dirge up mire and mud.

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

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