Isaiah 57
57
1The righteous person perishes,
and no one takes it to heart.
Loyal people are gathered together,
and no one understands that because of evil
the righteous one passed away.
2They will find peace;
those who walk in straight paths
will find rest on their burial beds.
Accusations against idolators
3Come here, you children of sorcery,
offspring of adultery and prostitution!
4Whom are you mocking?
Against whom do you open your mouth wide
and stick out your tongue?
Aren’t you children of rebellion, offspring of lies,
5who console yourselves with idols under every green tree,
who slaughter children in the valleys, under the rocky cliffs?
6You belong with the smooth talkers#57.6 Or smooth things in the valley;
they, they are your lot.
For them you poured out a drink offering,
and presented a grain offering.
Should I condone these things?
7On a very high mountain you made your bed.
You went up there to offer a sacrifice.
8Behind the door and the doorpost
you placed your symbols.
You abandoned me and lay down,
making room in your bed
and making deals for yourself with them.#57.8 Heb uncertain
You loved their bed;
you saw their nakedness.
9You went down to Molech#57.9 Or the king with oil,
and you slathered on your ointments;
you sent your messengers far away,
sent them down to the underworld.#57.9 Heb Sheol
10Worn out by all your efforts,
yet you wouldn’t say, “This is useless.”
You found new strength;
therefore, you weren’t tired.
11Whom did you dread and fear so that you lied,
didn’t remember me or give me a thought?
Isn’t it because I was silent and closed my eyes
that you stopped fearing me?
12I will bring evidence about your righteousness and your actions;
they won’t help you.
13When you cry out,
let those things you’ve gathered save you!
The wind will lift them all;
one breath will take them away.
but those taking refuge in me will inherit the land and possess my holy mountain.
Peace for the remorseful
14It will be said: “Survey, survey; build a road!
Remove barriers from my people’s road!”
15The one who is high and lifted up,
who lives forever, whose name is holy, says:
I live on high, in holiness,
and also with the crushed#57.15 Or contrite and the lowly,
reviving the spirit of the lowly,
reviving the heart of those who have been crushed.#57.15 Or contrite
16I won’t always accuse,
nor will I be enraged forever.
It is my own doing that their spirit is exhausted—
I gave them breath!
17I was enraged about their illegal profits;
I struck them; in rage I withdrew from them.
Yet they went on wandering wherever they wanted.
18I have seen their ways, but I will heal them.
I will guide them,
and reward them with comfort.
And for those who mourn,
19I will create reason for praise:#57.19 Heb uncertain
utter prosperity to those far and near,
and I will heal them, says the LORD.
20But the wicked are like the churning sea that can’t keep still.
They churn up from their waters muck and mud.
21There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked.
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Isaiah 57: CEB
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2011 Common English Bible. All rights reserved.
Isaiah 57
57
1The righteous man perishes,
and no one lays it to heart;
devout men are taken away,
while no one understands.
For the righteous man is taken away from calamity,
2he enters into peace;
they rest in their beds
who walk in their uprightness.
3But you, draw near hither,
sons of the sorceress,
offspring of the adulterer and the harlot.
4Of whom are you making sport?
Against whom do you open your mouth wide
and put out your tongue?
Are you not children of transgression,
the offspring of deceit,
5you who burn with lust among the oaks,
under every green tree;
who slay 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 cereal offering.
Shall I be appeased for these things?
7Upon a high and lofty mountain
you have set your bed,
and thither you went up to offer sacrifice.
8Behind the door and the doorpost
you have set up your symbol;
for, deserting me, 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 looked on nakedness.#57.8 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
9You journeyed to Molech#57.9 Or the king with oil
and multiplied your perfumes;
you sent your envoys far off,
and sent down even to Sheol.
10You were wearied with the length of your way,
but you did not say, “It is hopeless”;
you found new life for your strength,
and so you were not faint.
11Whom did you dread and fear,
so that you lied,
and did not remember me,
did not give me a thought?
Have I not held my peace, even for a long time,
and so you do not fear me?
12I will tell of your righteousness and your doings,
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 he who takes refuge in me shall possess the land,
and shall inherit my holy mountain.
14And it shall be said,
“Build up, build up, prepare the way,
remove every obstruction from my people's way.”
15 #
Mt 5.3. For 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 him who is of a contrite and humble spirit,
to revive the spirit of the humble,
and to revive the heart of the contrite.
16For I will not contend for ever,
nor will I always be angry;
for from me proceeds the spirit,
and I have made the breath of life.
17Because of the iniquity of his covetousness I was angry,
I smote him, I hid my face and was angry;
but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart.
18I have seen his ways, but I will heal him;
I will lead him and requite him with comfort,
creating for his mourners the fruit of the lips.
19 #
Acts 2.39; Eph 2.13,17. Peace, peace, to the far and to the near, says the Lord;
and I will heal him.
20But the wicked are like the tossing sea;
for it cannot rest,
and its waters toss up mire and dirt.
21There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked.”
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Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America