Isaiah 57

Israel’s Idolatry

1The godly perish,

but no one seems to notice.

The faithful ones are taken away,

and no one understands.

It is because of evil

that they are preserved from calamity,

2and the godly ones enter into peace,

resting serenely upon their death beds.

3“But you—come here, you son of a sorceress!

You’re nothing but an offspring

of an adulteress and a prostitute. # 57:3 This is a vivid picture of those who practice idolatry. See James 4:4.

4Who do you think you’re mocking?

At whom do you sneer and stick out your tongue?

Why, you’re a rebellious child, the offspring of liars!

5You burn with lust for other gods

among the oak groves and under every green tree.

You sacrifice your own children in the caves # 57:5 See 2 Chron. 28:3; 33:6.

near the bed of a stream.

6From there you take smooth stones

and worship them as idols.

Yes, they become your idols!

You bring them grain offerings

and pour out wine as drink offerings.

Do you think I will not seek vengeance for this?

7On a high hill, you practice ritual sex # 57:7 Or “On high you set up your bed.”

and go up to the lofty place to offer sacrifice.

8Hidden inside your front doors

you have set up your obscene idols. # 57:8 Or “[phallic] symbols.”

Forsaking me, you went up

and uncovered yourself

and climbed into your wide bed.

You made covenant with them for yourselves,

you slept with them, and you gazed upon their nakedness.

9You journeyed to the king # 57:9 Or “to [the Canaanite god] Molech.” with oil

along with many perfumes.

You sent your envoys to exotic lands,

even down to the underworld. # 57:9 Or “to Sheol.”

10Though all your wanderings wearied you,

you never said, ‘I give up.’

Your strength was renewed

so that you did not faint.

11“Why were you so afraid of them that you told lies

and did not remember me or even care what I thought?

Is it because I have been patient and long silent

that you no longer fear me?

12I will denounce your presumed ‘righteousness’

and your ‘good works,’

so don’t trust in your idols to help you.

13Let’s see if your pantheon of idols can save you when you cry out!

They will be blown away by the wind; # 57:13 Or “spirit.”

merely a breath will carry them off!

But whoever makes me a hiding place

will possess the land and inherit my holy mountain.” # 57:13 That is, Mount Zion. The believer today inherits the kingdom of God, the Zion-realm. See Ps. 37:9, 11; 69:35–36; Isa. 49:8; Matt. 5:5; Heb. 12:22.

A Promise of Revival and Healing

14Yahweh says, “Let the people return to me.

Build! Build up the road, clear the way, and get it ready!

Remove every obstacle from their path.”

15For this is what the high and majestic one says,

the one who fills the eternal realm with glory, # 57:15 The Hebrew word shakan (related to shekinah) means “to dwell or settle.” The implication is that God inhabits eternity, filling it with his glory.

whose name is Holy:

“I dwell in high and holy places

but also with the bruised and lowly in spirit,

those who are humble and quick to repent.

I dwell with them to revive the spirit of the humble,

to revive the heart of those who are broken over their sin.

16You will not find me continually accusing them # 57:16 Or “continually striving with them.”

or holding anger against them,

lest they feel defeated and lose heart before me.

For I am the One who gave the breath of life to my people.

17It was their sin and greed that made me angry,

so I struck them and hid my face from them.

But they continued in rebellion, following their own desires.

18Even though I’ve seen their ways, I will heal them. # 57:18 This is the same Hebrew word found in Isa. 53:5. See Hos. 6:1–3.

I will guide them forward and repay them with comfort,

giving mourners the language of praise. # 57:18 It is possible to see in this verse the progression of the worshiper from the outer court (healing), forward into the Holy Place, until he is drenched with God’s comforting presence in the Holy of Holies, where he releases his language of praise.

19I offer peace to those who are far from me,

and I offer peace to those who are near, # 57:19 See Eph. 2:11–22.

and I will heal their deepest wounds,” says Yahweh.

20“But the wicked are like the storm-tossed sea,

whose restless waves are never still,

stirring up mud and mire.

21There is no peace # 57:21 Or “well-being” or “prosperity.” for the wicked,” says my God.

Currently Selected:

Isaiah 57: TPT

Highlight

Copy

Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in

Learn More About The Passion Translation

Isaiah 57

Evil Leaders Rebuked

1The righteous man perishes [at the hand of evil], and no one takes it to heart;

Faithful and devout men are taken away, while no one understands

That the righteous person is taken away [to be spared] from disaster and evil.

2He enters into peace [through death];

They rest in their beds (graves),

Each one who walked uprightly [following God’s will, living with integrity].

3“But come here, you sons of a sorceress [raised in deception and superstition],

Offspring of an adulterer and a prostitute.

4Of whom do you make fun?

Against whom do you open wide your mouth

And stick out your tongue?

Are you not children of rebellion (sin),

Offspring of deceit,

5Who inflame yourselves [with lust in pagan rites] among the oaks (terebinth trees),

Under every green and leafy tree,

Who slaughter the children [in sacrifice] in the ravines

Under the clefts of the rocks?

6Among the smooth stones of the ravine

Is your portion, they (the idols) are your lot;

Even to them you have poured out a drink offering,

You have offered a grain offering.

Should I be quiet concerning these things [leaving them unpunished—bearing them with patience]?

7Upon a high and lofty mountain

You have [openly and shamelessly] made your [idolatrous and adulterous] bed;

Even there you went up to offer sacrifice [to idols, in spiritual unfaithfulness to Me].

8Behind the door and the doorpost

You have set up your [pagan] symbol;

Indeed, far removed from Me, you have uncovered yourself,

And have gone up and made your bed wide.

And you have made a [new] agreement for yourself with the adulterers,

You have loved their bed,

You have looked [with passion] on their #Lit hand.manhood.

9You have gone to #Another reading is Molech, i.e. to an idol of the pagan god.the king [of a pagan land] with oil

And increased your #Lit ointments.perfumes;

You have sent your messengers a great distance

And made them go down to Sheol (the realm of the dead).

10You were wearied by the length of your road,

Yet you did not say, ‘It is no use.’

You found #Lit the life of your hand.renewed strength,

Therefore you did not grow weak.

11“About whom were you worried and fearful

That you lied and did not #Or mention.remember Me,

Nor #Lit put on your heart.give Me a thought?

Was I not silent even for a long time

And [as a result] you do not fear Me?

12I will declare your [hypocritical] righteousness and your deeds,

But they will not benefit you.

13When you cry out [for help], let your [ridiculous] collection of idols save you.

But the wind will carry them all away,

A [mere] breath will take them.

But he who takes refuge in Me will possess the land [Judea]

And will inherit My holy mountain.”

14And it will be said,

“Build up, build up, clear the way.

Remove the stumbling block out of the way [of the spiritual return] of My people.”

15For the high and exalted One

He who inhabits eternity, Whose name is Holy says this,

“I dwell on the high and holy place,

But also with the #Lit crushed.contrite and humble in spirit

In order to revive the spirit of the humble

And to revive the heart of the contrite [overcome with sorrow for sin].

16For I will not contend forever,

Nor will I always be angry;

For [if I did stay angry] the spirit [of man] would grow weak before Me,

And the breath of those whom I have created.

17Because of the wickedness of his unjust gain I was angry and struck him;

I hid My face and was angry,

And he went on turning away and backsliding, in the way of his [own willful] heart.

18I have seen his [willful] ways, but I will heal him;

I will lead him [also] and will restore comfort to him and to those who mourn for him,

19As I create the #Lit fruit.praise of his lips,

Peace, peace, to him who is far away [both Jew and Gentile] and to him who is near!”

Says the Lord;

“And I will heal him [making his lips blossom anew with thankful praise].”

20But the wicked are like the tossing sea,

For it cannot be quiet,

And its waters toss up mire and mud.

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

Currently Selected:

Highlight

Copy

Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in

Amplified® Bible

The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631

Learn More About Amplified Bible