Isaiah 57
57
Israel's Futile Idolatry
1The righteous perish,
and no one takes it to heart;
the devout are taken away,
while no one understands.
For the righteous are taken away from calamity,
2and they enter into peace;
those who walk uprightly
will rest on their couches.
3But as for you, come here,
you children of a sorceress,
you offspring of an adulterer and a whore.#57.3 Heb an adulterer and she plays the whore
4Whom are you mocking?
Against whom do you open your mouth wide
and stick out your tongue?
Are you not children of transgression,
the offspring of deceit—
5you that burn with lust among the oaks,
under every green tree;
you that slaughter your children in the valleys,
under the clefts of the rocks?
6Among the smooth stones of the valley is your portion;
they, they, are your lot;
to them you have poured out a drink offering,
you have brought a grain offering.
Shall I be appeased for these things?
7Upon a high and lofty mountain
you have set your bed,
and there you went up to offer sacrifice.
8Behind the door and the doorpost
you have set up your symbol;
for, in deserting me,#57.8 Meaning of Heb uncertain you have uncovered your bed,
you have gone up to it,
you have made it wide;
and you have made a bargain for yourself with them,
you have loved their bed,
you have gazed on their nakedness.#57.8 Or their phallus; Heb the hand
9You journeyed to Molech#57.9 Or the king with oil,
and multiplied your perfumes;
you sent your envoys far away,
and sent down even to Sheol.
10You grew weary from your many wanderings,
but you did not say, “It is useless.”
You found your desire rekindled,
and so you did not weaken.
11Whom did you dread and fear
so that you lied,
and did not remember me
or give me a thought?
Have I not kept silent and closed my eyes,#57.11 Gk Vg: Heb silent even for a long time
and so you do not fear me?
12I will concede your righteousness and your works,
but they will not help you.
13When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you!
The wind will carry them off,
a breath will take them away.
But whoever takes refuge in me shall possess the land
and inherit my holy mountain.
A Promise of Help and Healing
14It shall be said,
“Build up, build up, prepare the way,
remove every obstruction from my people's way.”
15For thus says the high and lofty one
who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
I dwell in the high and holy place,
and also with those who are contrite and humble in spirit,
to revive the spirit of the humble,
and to revive the heart of the contrite.
16For I will not continually accuse,
nor will I always be angry;
for then the spirits would grow faint before me,
even the souls that I have made.
17Because of their wicked covetousness I was angry;
I struck them, I hid and was angry;
but they kept turning back to their own ways.
18I have seen their ways, but I will heal them;
I will lead them and repay them with comfort,
creating for their mourners the fruit of the lips.#57.18 Meaning of Heb uncertain
19Peace, peace, to the far and the near, says the Lord;
and I will heal them.
20But the wicked are like the tossing sea
that cannot keep still;
its waters toss up mire and mud.
21There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked.
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Isaiah 57: NRSV-CI
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New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989 Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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
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