Isaiah 57
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.
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Isaiah 57: TPT
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Learn More About The Passion TranslationIsaiah 57
57
Idolatry is Adultery
1The righteous one perishes, and there is no one who takes#Or “sets” it to heart.
And men of faithfulness are gathered, while there is no one who understands,
for the righteous is gathered from the presence of wickedness.
2he enters into peace;
they will rest on their beds,
walking straight ahead of him.
3“But#Or “And” you, come near here, you children of a soothsayer,
offspring of an adulterer and she who commits fornication.
4At whom do you make fun?
At whom do you open#Literally “widen” your mouth and stick out#Literally “make long” your tongue?
Are you not children of transgression,
offspring of deception,
5who burn with lust among the oaks,
under every leafy tree,
who slaughter children in the valleys,
under the clefts of the rocks?
6Your portion is among the smooth stones of the valley;
they, they are your lot;
indeed, to them you have poured out a drink offering,
you have brought a food offering.
Shall I relent concerning these things?
7You have set your bed upon a high and lofty mountain;
indeed, you went up there to slaughter sacrifice.
8And you have set your symbol behind the door and the doorpost;
for you depart#The reading tradition (Qere) has “uncover,” which makes no sense in context, but with different vowels it would be “depart” from me, and you go up;
you make your bed wide, and you make a deal with#Literally “cut off for yourself from” them,
you have loved their bed; you have seen their genitals.#Literally “hand”
9And you climbed down to the king with oil,
and you made your perfumes numerous,
and you sent your envoys far away,#Literally “to from far”
and you sent down deep#Literally “humiliated” to Sheol.
10You grow weary by the greatness of your way,
but you did not say, ‘Despairing!’
You found the renewal#Literally “life” of your strength,#Literally “hand;” compare the “hand” in verse 8
therefore you do not grow weak.
11And of whom were you afraid and feared, that you deceived
and did not remember me?
Did you not place it on your heart?
Have I not been silent, even from long ago,
and so you do not fear me?
12I myself will declare your righteousness and your works,
but#Or “and” they will not benefit you.
13When you cry,#Literally “your crying” let your collection deliver you,
and the wind will carry all of them away;
a breath will take them away.
But#Or “And” he who takes refuge in me shall take possession of the land,
and he shall inherit my holy mountain.”#Literally “mountain of holiness “
Peace for the Contrite
14And one shall say, “Build up, build up! Clear the way!
Remove the obstacles#Hebrew “obstacle” from the way of my people!”
15For thus says the high and lofty one who resides forever, and whose name is holy:
“I reside in a high and holy place,
and with the contrite#Literally “crushed” and humble of spirit,
to revive the spirit of the humble,
and to revive the heart of the contrite.#Literally “crushed”
16For I will not attack forever,
and I will not be angry forever,
for the spirit will grow faint before me,
and the breaths that I myself I have made.
17I was angry because of his sin of gain, and I struck him;
I hid and I was angry, but#Or “and” he walked apostate, in the ways#Hebrew “way” of his heart.
18I have seen his ways,
but#Or “and” I will heal him;
and I will lead him
and give him and his mourners comfort as a recompense,
19creating fruit of lips.
Peace, peace to the far and near,” says Yahweh, “and I will heal him.
20But#Or “And” the wicked are like the churning sea, that is not able to keep quiet,
and its waters toss up mire and mud.
21There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”
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