Isaiah 57

1The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.footnote afootnote b

2He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.footnote cfootnote d

3But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the whore.

4Against whom do ye sport yourselves? against whom make ye a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue? are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood,

5Enflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys under the clifts of the rocks?footnote e

6Among the smooth stones of the stream is thy portion; they, they are thy lot: even to them hast thou poured a drink offering, thou hast offered a meat offering. Should I receive comfort in these?

7Upon a lofty and high mountain hast thou set thy bed: even thither wentest thou up to offer sacrifice.

8Behind the doors also and the posts hast thou set up thy remembrance: for thou hast discovered thyself to another than me, and art gone up; thou hast enlarged thy bed, and made thee a covenant with them; thou lovedst their bed where thou sawest it.footnote ffootnote g

9And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase thyself even unto hell.footnote h

10Thou art wearied in the greatness of thy way; yet saidst thou not, There is no hope: thou hast found the life of thine hand; therefore thou wast not grieved.footnote i

11And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not?

12I will declare thy righteousness, and thy works; for they shall not profit thee.

13When thou criest, let thy companies deliver thee; but the wind shall carry them all away; vanity shall take them: but he that putteth his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain;

14And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people.

15For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

16For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.

17For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart.footnote j

18I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.

19I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him.

20But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

21There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.

The Blessed Death of the Righteous

1The righteous perish,and no one takes it to heart;devout men are taken away,while no one considersthat the righteous are taken awayfrom the presence of evil.

2Those who walk uprightly enter into peace;they find rest, lying down in death.

God Condemns Idolatry

3“But come here, you sons of a sorceress,you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes! 4Whom are you mocking?At whom do you sneer and stick out your tongue?Are you not children of transgression,offspring of deceit, 5who burn with lust among the oaks,under every luxuriant tree,who slaughter your children in the valleys,under the clefts of the rocks? 6Your portion is among the smooth stones of the valley;indeed, they are your lot.Even to them you have poured out a drink offeringand offered a grain offering.Should I relent because of these?

7On a high and lofty hill you have made your bed,and there you went up to offer sacrifices. 8Behind the door and doorpostyou have set up your memorial.Forsaking Me, you uncovered your bed;you climbed up and opened it wide.And you have made a pact with those whose bed you have loved;you have gazed upon their nakedness. 9You went to Molechfootnote awith oiland multiplied your perfumes.You have sent your envoysfootnote ba great distance;you have descended even to Sheol itself. 10You are wearied by your many journeys,but you did not say, “There is no hope!”You found renewal of your strength;therefore you did not grow weak.

11Whom have you dreaded and feared,so that you lied and failedto remember Me or take this to heart?Is it not because I have long been silentthat you do not fear Me? 12I will expose your righteousness and your works,and they will not profit you. 13When you cry out,let your companies of idols deliver you!Yet the wind will carry off all of them,a breath will take them away.But he who seeks refuge in Me will inherit the landand possess My holy mountain.”

Healing for the Repentant

14And it will be said,“Build it up, build it up, prepare the way,take every obstacle out of the way of My people.”

15For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:“I dwell in a high and holy place,and with the oppressed and humble in spirit,to restore the spirit of the lowlyand revive the heart of the contrite. 16For I will not accuse you forever,nor will I always be angry;for then the spirit of man would grow weak before Me—the breath of life I have made.

17I was enraged by his sinful greed,so I struck him and hid My face in anger;yet he kept turning backto the desires of his heart. 18I have seen his ways,but I will heal him;I will guide him and restore comfortto him and his mourners, 19bringing praise to their lips.Peace, peace to those far and near,” says the LORD,“and I will heal them.”

20But the wicked are like the storm-tossed sea,for it cannot be still,and its waves churn up mire and muck.

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