Isaiæ 57
1 Justus perit, et non est qui recogitet in corde suo; et viri misericordiæ colliguntur, quia non est qui intelligat: a facie enim malitiæ collectus est justus.
The righteous perish, and no one lays it to heart. Merciful men are taken away, and no one considers that the righteous is taken away from the evil.
2 Veniat pax; requiescat in cubili suo qui ambulavit in directione sua.
He enters into peace. They rest in their beds, each one who walks in his uprightness.
3 Vos autem accedite huc, filii auguratricis, semen adulteri et fornicariæ.
“But draw near here, you sons of a sorceress, you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes.
4 Super quem lusistis? super quem dilatastis os, et ejecistis linguam? Numquid non vos filii scelesti, semen mendax,
Whom do you mock? Against whom do you make a wide mouth and stick out your tongue? Aren’t you children of disobedience and offspring of falsehood,
5 qui consolamini in diis subter omne lignum frondosum, immolantes parvulos in torrentibus, subter eminentes petras?
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 In partibus torrentis pars tua; hæc est sors tua: et ipsis effudisti libamen, obtulisti sacrificium. Numquid super his non indignabor?
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 Super montem excelsum et sublimem posuisti cubile tuum, et illuc ascendisti ut immolares hostias.
On a high and lofty mountain you have set your bed. You also went up there to offer sacrifice.
8 Et post ostium, et retro postem, posuisti memoriale tuum. Quia juxta me discooperuisti, et suscepisti adulterum, dilatasti cubile tuum, et pepigisti cum eis fœdus; dilexisti stratum eorum manu aperta.
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 loved what you saw on their bed.
9 Et ornasti te regi unguento, et multiplicasti pigmenta tua. Misisti legatos tuos procul, et humiliata es usque ad inferos. (Sheol h7585)
You went to the king with oil, increased your perfumes, sent your ambassadors far off, and degraded yourself even to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
10 In multitudine viæ tuæ laborasti; non dixisti: Quiescam. Vitam manus tuæ invenisti; propterea non rogasti.
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 weren’t faint.
11 Pro quo sollicita 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.
“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 Ego annuntiabo justitiam tuam, et opera tua non proderunt tibi.
I will declare your righteousness; and as for your works, they will not benefit you.
13 Cum clamaveris, liberent te congregati tui, et omnes eos auferet ventus, tollet aura. Qui autem fiduciam habet mei, hæreditabit terram, et possidebit montem sanctum meum.
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 Et dicam: Viam facite, præbete iter; declinate de semita, auferte offendicula de via populi mei.
He will say, “Build up, build up, prepare the way! Remove the stumbling-block out of the way of my people.”
15 Quia hæc dicit Excelsus, et Sublimis, habitans æternitatem, et sanctum nomen ejus: in excelso et in sancto habitans, et cum contrito et humili spiritu: ut vivificet spiritum humilium, et vivificet cor contritorum.
For the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy, says: “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 Non enim in sempiternum litigabo, neque usque ad finem irascar, quia spiritus a facie mea egredietur, et flatus ego faciam.
For I will not contend forever, neither will I always be angry; for the spirit would faint before me, and the souls whom I have made.
17 Propter iniquitatem avaritiæ ejus iratus sum, et percussi eum. Abscondi a te faciem meam, et indignatus sum; et abiit vagus in via cordis sui.
I was angry because of the iniquity of his covetousness and struck him. I hid myself and was angry; and he went on backsliding in the way of his heart.
18 Vias ejus vidi, et sanavi eum; et reduxi eum, et reddidi consolationes ipsi, et lugentibus ejus.
I have seen his ways, and will heal him. I will lead him also, and restore comforts to him and to his mourners.
19 Creavi fructum labiorum pacem; pacem ei qui longe est et qui prope, dixit Dominus, et sanavi eum.
I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace, to him who is far off and to him who is near,” says Yahweh; “and I will heal them.”
20 Impii autem quasi mare fervens, quod quiescere non potest, et redundant fluctus ejus in conculcationem et lutum.
But the wicked are like the troubled sea; for it can’t rest and its waters cast up mire and mud.
21 Non est pax impiis, dicit Dominus Deus.
“There is no peace”, says my God, “for the wicked.”
