Isaiæ 57

1 Iustus perit, et non est qui recogitet in corde suo: et viri misericordiæ colliguntur, quia non est qui intelligat, a facie enim malitiæ collectus est iustus.

Righteous people [sometimes] die [when they are still young], and no one is concerned about it. Godly people [sometimes] die because of disasters, and no one understands why. They are taken away in order that they will not endure more calamities,

2 Veniat pax, requiescat in cubili suo qui ambulavit in directione sua.

and now they have peace. They [continually] lived righteously, and [now] they rest [peacefully] in their graves.

3 Vos autem accedite huc filii auguratricis: semen adulteri, et fornicariæ.

[Yahweh says, ] “But you who practice sorcery, come here! You who worship idols [MET], [listen to me]!

4 Super quem lusistis? super quem dilatastis os, et eiecistis linguam? numquid non vos filii scelesti, semen mendax?

Do you realize [RHQ] whom you are ridiculing, and whom you are insulting? Do you realize [RHQ] to whom you are sticking out your tongues? [You are insulting me, Yahweh]! You are [RHQ] always rebelling against me and always lying.

5 qui consolamini in diis subter omne lignum frondosum, immolantes parvulos in torrentibus, subter eminentes petras?

You are eager to have sex under every [big] green tree where you worship your gods. You kill your children as sacrifices [to your idols] in the dry riverbeds, and [also] offer them [as sacrifices to your idols] in the rocky caves.

6 In partibus torrentis pars tua, hæc est sors tua: et ipsis effudisti libamen, obtulisti sacrificium. numquid super his non indignabor?

[You take big] smooth stones from the riverbeds and worship them as your gods. You pour out [wine] to be an offering to them, and you bring grain [to burn for] an offering to them. Do you think that I should not punish you for doing all those things?

7 Super montem excelsum et sublimem posuisti cubile tuum, et illuc ascendisti ut immolares hostias.

You have sex [EUP] [with cult prostitutes] on every hill and mountain, and you go there to offer sacrifices [to your gods].

8 Et post ostium, et retro postem posuisti memoriale tuum: quia iuxta me discooperuisti, et suscepisti adulterum: dilatasti cubile tuum, et pepigisti cum eis fœdus: dilexisti stratum eorum manu aperta.

You have put (fetishes/pagan symbols) behind your doors and doorposts, and you have deserted me. You have taken off your clothes [EUP] and climbed into your bed and invited more [of your lovers] to come to bed with you. You have paid them to have sex with you, and you have fondled their sexual organs.

9 Et ornasti te regi unguento, et multiplicasti pigmenta tua. Misisti legatos tuos procul, et humiliata es usque ad inferos. (Sheol h7585)

You have given [fragrant] oil and lots of perfume to your god Molech, and you sent messengers to distant countries [to find other gods to worship]; you [even tried to] send [messengers] to the place of the dead [to search for new gods]. (Sheol h7585)

10 In multitudine viæ tuæ laborasti: non dixisti: Quiescam: vitam manus tuæ invenisti, propterea non rogasti.

You became weary because of doing all those things, but you never said, ‘It is useless [for us to do that].’ You found new strength for worshiping idols, so you continued to do that [LIT].

11 Pro quo solicita timuisti, quia mentita es, et mei non es recordata, neque cogitasti in corde tuo? quia ego tacens, et quasi non videns, et mei oblita es.

Was it because you were afraid [of those idols more than you were afraid of me] that you lied [about what you were doing], and you do not even think about [DOU, RHQ] me? Was it because I did not punish you for a long time that you are not afraid of me [RHQ]?

12 Ego annunciabo iustitiam tuam, et opera tua non proderunt tibi.

You [think that] [IRO] the things that you have done are right, but I will tell the truth. It will not help you to do any of those things.

13 Cum clamaveris, liberent te congregati tui, et omnes eos auferet ventus, tollet aura: Qui autem fiduciam habet mei, hereditabit terram, et possidebit montem sanctum meum.

When you cry out [for help] to your collection of idols, they will not rescue you. The wind will blow them away [DOU]. But those who trust in me will live in the land [of Israel], and [they will worship me on Zion], my sacred hill.”

14 Et dicam: Viam facite, præbete iter, declinate de semita, auferte offendicula de via populi mei.

Yahweh will say, “Prepare [yourselves to receive] me, [like] [MET] people build and prepare a road [for a king to come on]. Get rid of [the things that are causing you to sin] [like] [MET] people remove from a road (obstacles/things that cause people to stumble).

15 Quia hæc dicit Excelsus, et sublimis habitans æternitatem: et sanctum nomen eius in excelso et in sancto habitans, et cum contrito et humili spiritu: ut vivificet spiritum humilium, et vivificet cor contritorum.

Because this is what [I], Yahweh, who am holy and greatly honored and who live forever, say: I live in the highest heaven, where [everything] is holy, but I also am with those who are humble and who are sorry for the sinful things that they have done. I will greatly encourage [DOU] those who have repented.

16 Non enim in sempiternum litigabo, neque usque ad finem irascar: quia spiritus a facie mea egredietur, et flatus ego faciam.

I will not accuse [people] forever; I will not always be angry [with them], because [if I did that], people would become weak/discouraged; all the people whom I created and caused to live would die.

17 Propter iniquitatem avaritiæ eius iratus sum, et percussi eum: abscondi a te faciem meam, et indignatus sum: et abiit vagus in via cordis sui.

I was angry [with my people] because they sinned by wanting the things that others had. So because I was angry, I punished them and turned away from them, but they continued sinning.

18 Vias eius vidi, et sanavi eum, et reduxi eum, et reddidi consolationes ipsi, et lugentibus eius.

I have seen the evil things that they continually do, but I will restore them and lead them. I will encourage/comfort them. And to those who are mourning,

19 Creavi fructum labiorum pacem, pacem ei, qui longe est, et qui prope, dixit Dominus, et sanavi eum.

I will enable them to sing songs to praise me. I will restore [all my people], those who live near [Jerusalem] and those who live far away, and I will cause things to go well for them.

20 Impii autem quasi mare fervens, quod quiescere non potest, et redundant fluctus eius in conculcationem et lutum.

Wicked [people do not have peace in their inner beings]; they are like [SIM] a sea [whose waves are] always churning up mud,

21 Non est pax impiis, dicit Dominus Deus.

and [I], Yahweh, say that things will never (go well/be peaceful) for those who are evil.”