Isaiah 57
57
1The righteous perish,
and no-one takes it to heart;
the devout are taken away,
and no-one understands
that the righteous are taken away
to be spared from evil.
2Those who walk uprightly
enter into peace;
they find rest as they lie in death.
3‘But you – come here, you children of a sorceress,
you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes!
4Who are you mocking?
At whom do you sneer
and stick out your tongue?
Are you not a brood of rebels,
the offspring of liars?
5You burn with lust among the oaks
and under every spreading tree;
you sacrifice your children in the ravines
and under the overhanging crags.
6The idols among the smooth stones of the ravines are your portion;
indeed, they are your lot.
Yes, to them you have poured out drink offerings
and offered grain offerings.
In view of all this, should I relent?
7You have made your bed on a high and lofty hill;
there you went up to offer your sacrifices.
8Behind 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 with lust on their naked bodies.
9You went to Molek#57:9 Or to the king with olive oil
and increased your perfumes.
You sent your ambassadors#57:9 Or idols far away;
you descended to the very realm of the dead!
10You wearied yourself by such going about,
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 not been true to me,
and have neither remembered me
nor taken this to heart?
Is it not because I have long been silent
that you do not fear me?
12I will expose your righteousness and your works,
and they will not benefit you.
13When 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 whoever takes refuge in me
will inherit the land
and possess my holy mountain.’
Comfort for the contrite
14And it will be said:
‘Build up, build up, prepare the road!
Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people.’
15For this is what the high and exalted One says –
he who lives for ever, whose name is holy:
‘I live in a high and holy place,
but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly
and to revive the heart of the contrite.
16I will not accuse them for ever,
nor will I always be angry,
for then they would faint away because of me –
the very people I have created.
17I was enraged by their sinful greed;
I punished them, and hid my face in anger,
yet they kept on in their wilful ways.
18I have seen their ways, but I will heal them;
I will guide them and restore comfort to Israel’s mourners,
19creating praise on their lips.
Peace, peace, to those far and near,’
says the Lord.
‘And I will heal them.’
20But 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.’
Currently Selected:
Isaiah 57: NIVUK
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
The Holy Bible, New International Version® (Anglicised), NIV®
Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.
Isaiah 57
57
1The righteous person perishes,
and no one takes it to heart;
the faithful are taken away,
with no one realizing
that the righteous person is taken away
because of#57:1 Or taken away from the presence of evil.
2He will enter into peace —
they will rest on their beds#57:2 Either their deathbeds or their graves —
everyone who lives uprightly.
Pagan Religion Denounced
3But come here,
you witch’s sons,
offspring of an adulterer and a prostitute!#57:3 Lit and she acted as a prostitute
4Who are you mocking?
Who are you opening your mouth
and sticking out your tongue at?
Isn’t it you, you rebellious children,#Is 30:1,9
you offspring of liars,
5who burn with lust among the oaks,
under every green tree,#2Kg 16:4; Jr 2:20; 3:13
who slaughter children in the wadis
below the clefts of the rocks?#2Kg 23:10; Ps 106:37–38; Jr 7:31; Ezk 16:20–21
6Your portion is among the smooth stones of the wadi;
indeed, they are your lot.
You have even poured out a drink offering to them;
you have offered a grain offering;
should I be satisfied with these?
7You have placed your bed
on a high and lofty mountain;#Jr 3:6; Ezk 16:16
you also went up there to offer sacrifice.
8You have set up your memorial
behind the door and doorpost.
For away from me, you stripped,
went up, and made your bed wide,#Ezk 23:17–18
and you have made a bargain#57:8 Lit you cut for yourself with them.
You have loved their bed;
you have gazed on their genitals.#57:8 Lit hand#57:8 In Hb, the word “hand” is probably a euphemism for genitals.
9You went to the king with oil
and multiplied your perfumes;
you sent your envoys far away#Ezk 16:26–29
and sent them down even to Sheol.
10You became weary on your many journeys,
but you did not say, “It’s hopeless!” #Jr 2:25; 18:12
You found a renewal of your strength;#57:10 Lit found life of your hand
therefore you did not grow weak.
11Who was it you dreaded and feared,
so that you lied and didn’t remember me
or take it to heart?
I have kept silent for a long time, haven’t I?#57:11 LXX reads And I, when I see you, I pass by#Ps 50:21; Is 42:14
So you do not fear me.
12I will announce your righteousness,
and your works — they will not profit you.
13When you cry out,
let your collection of idols rescue you!
The wind will carry all of them off,
a breath will take them away.
But whoever takes refuge in me
will inherit the land#Ps 37:3,9; Is 25:4
and possess my holy mountain.#Is 65:9
Healing and Peace
14He said,
“Build it up, build it up, prepare the way,
remove every obstacle from my people’s way.”#Is 62:10; Jr 18:15
15For the High and Exalted One,
who lives forever, whose name is holy,#Lk 1:49 says this:
“I live in a high and holy place,
and with the oppressed and lowly of spirit,#Ps 34:18; 51:17; Is 66:2
to revive the spirit of the lowly
and revive the heart of the oppressed.#Ps 147:3; Is 61:1–3
16For I will not accuse you forever,
and I will not always be angry;#Gn 6:3; Ps 103:9; Jr 3:12
for then the spirit would grow weak before me,
even the breath, which I have made.
17Because of his sinful greed I was angry,#Is 2:7; 56:11; Jr 6:13
so I struck him; I was angry and hid;
but he went on turning back to the desires of his heart.
18I have seen his ways, but I will heal him;
I will lead him and restore comfort
to him and his mourners,#Is 61:1–3
19creating words of praise.”#57:19 Lit creating fruit of the lips#Is 6:7; 51:16; 59:21; Heb 13:15
The Lord says,
“Peace, peace to the one who is far or near,#Ac 2:39; Eph 2:17
and I will heal him.
20But the wicked are like the storm-tossed sea,#Ps 107:29
for it cannot be still,
and its water churns up mire and muck.
21There is no peace for the wicked,”
says my God.#Is 48:22; 59:8
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
© 2017 Holman Bible Publishers