Isaiah 57

Israel Does Not Follow God

1 Those who are right with God may die, but no one pays attention.
Good people are taken away, but no one understands.
Those who do right are being taken away from evil

2 and are given peace.
Those who live as God wants find rest in death.

3 “Come here, you magicians! Come here, you children of prostitutes and those who take part in adultery!

4 Of whom are you making fun? Whom are you insulting? At whom do you stick out your tongue?
You turn against God, and you are liars.

5 You have sexual relations under every green tree to worship your gods.
You kill children in the ravines and sacrifice them in the rocky places.

6 You take the smooth rocks from the ravines as your portion.
You pour drink offerings on them to worship them, and you give grain offerings to them. Do you think this makes me want to show you mercy?

7 You make your bed on every hill and mountain, and there you offer sacrifices.

8 You have hidden your idols behind your doors and doorposts.
You have left me, and you have uncovered yourself. You have pulled back the covers and climbed into bed.
You have made an agreement with those whose beds you love, and you have looked at their nakedness.

9 You use your oils and perfumes to look nice for Molech.
You have sent your messengers to faraway lands; you even tried to send them to the place of the dead.

10 You were tired from doing these things, but you never gave up.
You found new strength, so you did not quit.

11 “Whom were you so afraid of that you lied to me?
You have not remembered me or even thought about me.
I have been quiet for a long time. Is that why you are not afraid of me?

12 I will tell about your ‘goodness’ and what you do, and those things will do you no good.

13 When you cry out for help, let the gods you have gathered help you.
The wind will blow them all away; just a puff of wind will take them away.
But the person who depends on me will receive the land and own my holy mountain.”

The Lord Will Save His People

14 Someone will say, “Build a road! Build a road! Prepare the way! Make the way clear for my people.”

15 And this is the reason: God lives forever and is holy. He is high and lifted up.
He says, “I live in a high and holy place, but I also live with people who are sad and humble.
I give new life to those who are humble and to those whose hearts are broken.

16 I will not accuse forever, nor will I always be angry,
because then human life would grow weak. Human beings, whom I created, would die.

17 I was angry because they were dishonest in order to make money. I punished them and turned away from them in anger, but they continued to do evil.

18 I have seen what they have done, but I will heal them. I will guide them and comfort them and those who felt sad for them. They will all praise me.

19 I will give peace, real peace, to those far and near, and I will heal them,” says the Lord.

20 But evil people are like the angry sea, which cannot rest, whose waves toss up waste and mud.
21 “There is no peace for evil people,” says my God.

Isaiah 57

1 The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart; and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.2 He entereth into peace; they rest in their beds, each one that walketh in his uprightness.3 But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the harlot.4 Against whom do ye sport yourselves? against whom make ye a wide mouth, and put out the tongue? are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood,5 ye that inflame yourselves among the oaks, under every green tree; that slay the children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?6 Among the smooth stones of the valley is thy portion; they, they are thy lot; even to them hast thou poured a drink-offering, thou hast offered an oblation. Shall I be appeased for these things?7 Upon a high and lofty mountain hast thou set thy bed; thither also wentest thou up to offer sacrifice.8 And behind the doors and the posts hast thou set up thy memorial: for thou hast uncovered thyself to another than me, and art gone up; thou hast enlarged thy bed, and made thee a covenant with them: thou lovedst their bed where thou sawest it.9 And thou wentest to the king with oil, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thine ambassadors far off, and didst debase thyself even unto Sheol.10 Thou wast wearied with the length of thy way; yet saidst thou not, It is in vain: thou didst find a quickening of thy strength; therefore thou wast not faint.11 And of whom hast thou been afraid and in fear, that thou liest, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of long time, and thou fearest me not?12 I will declare thy righteousness; and as for thy works, they shall not profit thee.13 When thou criest, let them that thou hast gathered deliver thee; but the wind shall take them, a breath shall carry them all away: but he that taketh refuge in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain.14 And he will say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumbling-block out of the way of my people.15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth 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.16 For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth; for the spirit would faint before me, and the souls that I have made.17 For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him; I hid my face and was wroth; 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 unto him and to his mourners.19 I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace, to him that is far off and to him that is near, saith Jehovah; and I will heal him.20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea; for it cannot rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt.21 There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.