Isaiah 57
57
Israel's Idolatry is Condemned
1Good people die, and no one understands or even cares. But when they die, no calamity can hurt them. 2Those who live good lives find peace and rest in death.
3Come here to be judged, you sinners! You are no better than sorcerers, adulterers, and prostitutes. 4Who are you making fun of? Who are you liars jeering at? 5You worship the fertility gods by having sex under those sacred trees of yours. You offer your children as sacrifices in the rocky caves near the bed of a stream. 6You take smooth stones from there and worship them as gods. You pour out wine as offerings to them and bring them grain offerings. Do you think I am pleased with all this? 7You go to the high mountains to offer sacrifices and have sex. 8You set up your obscene idols just inside your front doors. You forsake me; you take off your clothes and climb into your large beds with your lovers, whom you pay to sleep with you. And there you satisfy your lust. 9You put on your perfumes and ointments and go to worship the god Molech. To find gods to worship, you send messengers far and wide, even to the world of the dead. 10You wear yourselves out looking for other gods, but you never give up. You think your obscene idols give you strength, and so you never grow weak.
11The LORD says, “Who are these gods that make you afraid, so that you tell me lies and forget me completely? Have you stopped honouring me because I have kept silent for so long? 12You think that what you do is right, but I will expose your conduct, and your idols will not be able to help you. 13When you cry for help, let those idols of yours save you! A puff of wind will carry them off! But those who trust in me will live in the land and will worship me in my Temple.”
God's Promise of Help and Healing
14The LORD says, “Let my people return to me. Remove every obstacle from their path! Build the road, and make it ready!
15“I am the high and holy God, who lives for ever. I live in a high and holy place, but I also live with people who are humble and repentant, so that I can restore their confidence and hope. 16I gave my people life, and I will not continue to accuse them or be angry with them for ever.#57.16 I gave my people… for ever; or I will not continue to accuse them or be angry with them for ever, for then they would die — the very people to whom I gave life. 17I was angry with them because of their sin and greed, and so I punished them and abandoned them. But they were stubborn and kept on going their own way.
18“I have seen how they acted, but I will heal them. I will lead them and help them, and I will comfort those who mourn. 19#Eph 2.17I offer peace to all, both near and far! I will heal my people. 20But evil people are like the restless sea, whose waves never stop rolling in, bringing filth and muck. 21#Is 48.22There is no safety for sinners,” says the LORD.
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Isaiah 57: GNBUK
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Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.
Isaiah 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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