Isaiah 57

1 The righteous perish,
and no one ponders it in his heart;
devout men are taken away,
and no one understands
that the righteous are taken away
to be spared from evil.

2 Those who walk uprightly
enter into peace;
they find rest as they lie in death.

3 “But you—come here, you sons of a sorceress,
you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes!

4 Whom are you mocking?
At whom do you sneer
and stick out your tongue?
Are you not a brood of rebels,
the offspring of liars?

5 You burn with lust among the oaks
and under every spreading tree;
you sacrifice your children in the ravines
and under the overhanging crags.

6  The idols among the smooth stones of the ravines are your portion;
they, they are your lot.
Yes, to them you have poured out drink offerings
and offered grain offerings.
In the light of these things, should I relent?

7 You have made your bed on a high and lofty hill;
there you went up to offer your sacrifices.

8 Behind your doors and your doorposts
you have put your pagan symbols.
Forsaking me, you uncovered your bed,
you climbed into it and opened it wide;
you made a pact with those whose beds you love,
and you looked on their nakedness.

9 You went to Molech with olive oil
and increased your perfumes.
You sent your ambassadors far away;
you descended to the grave itself!

10 You were wearied by all your ways,
but you would not say, ‘It is hopeless.’
You found renewal of your strength,
and so you did not faint.

11 “Whom have you so dreaded and feared
that you have been false to me,
and have neither remembered me
nor pondered this in your hearts?
Is it not because I have long been silent
that you do not fear me?

12 I will expose your righteousness and your works,
and they will not benefit you.

13 When you cry out for help,
let your collection of idols save you!
The wind will carry all of them off,
a mere breath will blow them away.
But the man who makes me his refuge
will inherit the land
and possess my holy mountain.”

Comfort for the Contrite

14 And it will be said:
“Build up, build up, prepare the road!
Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people.”

15 For this is what the high and lofty One says—
he who lives forever, whose name is holy:
“I live in a high and holy place,
but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly
and to revive the heart of the contrite.

16 I will not accuse forever,
nor will I always be angry,
for then the spirit of man would grow faint before me—
the breath of man that I have created.

17 I was enraged by his sinful greed;
I punished him, and hid my face in anger,
yet he kept on in his willful ways.

18 I have seen his ways, but I will heal him;
I will guide him and restore comfort to him,

19 creating praise on the lips of the mourners in Israel.
Peace, peace, to those far and near,”
says the Lord. “And I will heal them.”

20 But the wicked are like the tossing sea,
which cannot rest,
whose waves cast up mire and mud.

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

ISAIAH 57

God's Faithful People Suffer

1 God's faithful people
are dragged off and killed,
and no one even cares.
Evil sweeps them away,

2 but in death they find peace
for obeying God.t

The [Lord] Condemns Idolatry

3 You people are unfaithful!
You go to fortunetellers,
and you worship idols.
Now pay close attention!

4 Who are you making fun of?
Who are you sneering at?
Look how your sins
have made fools of you.

5 All you think about is sex
under those green trees
where idols are worshiped.
You sacrifice your children
on altars built in valleys
under rocky slopes.

6 You have chosen to worship
idols made of stone;t
you have given them offerings
of wine and grain.
Should I be pleased?

7 You have spread out your beds
on the tops of high mountains,
where you sacrifice to idols.

8 Even in your homes
you have placed pagan symbols
all around your huge beds.
Yes, you have rejected me,
sold yourselves to your lovers,
and gone to bed with them.t

9 You smear on olive oil
and all kinds of perfume
to worship the god Molech.t
You even seek advice
from spirits of the dead.

10 Though you tired yourself out
by running after idols,
you refused to stop.
Your desires were so strong
that they kept you going.

11 Did you forget about me
and become unfaithful
because you were more afraid
of someone else?
Have I been silent so longt
that you no longer fear me?

12 You think you're so good,
but I'll point out the truth.

13 Ask your idols to save you
when you are in trouble.
Be careful though—
it takes only a faint breath
to blow them over.
But if you come to me
for protection,
this land and my holy mountain
will always belong to you.

The [Lord] Helps the Helpless

14 The [Lord] says,
“Clear the road!
Get it ready for my people.”

15  t Our holy God lives forever
in the highest heavens,
and this is what he says:
Though I live high above
in the holy place,
I am here to help those
who are humble
and depend only on me.

16 My people, I won't stay angry
and keep on accusing you.
After all, I am your Creator.
I don't want you to give up
in complete despair.

17 Your greed made me furious.
That's why I punished you
and refused to be found,
while you kept returning
to your old sinful ways.

18 I know what you are like!
But I will heal you, lead you,
and give you comfort,
until those who are mourning

19  t start singing my praises.t
No matter where you are,
I, the [Lord], will heal yout
and give you peace.

20 The wicked are a restless sea
tossing up mud.

21  t But I, the [Lord], have promised
that none who are evil
will live in peace.