Isaiah Chapter 57
1 Good people perish and nobody notices;
the devout disappear without anyone realizing it,
because God takes good people out of harm’s way
2 They who take the godly road
go to peace and rest in their graves.
Idolatrous Worship Condemned
3 “But come here, you sons of sorcerers,
you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes.
4 Who are you making fun of?
Who are you mouthing off to?
Who are you sticking out your tongue at?
Aren’t you rebellious brats, lying cads
5 that worship your idols with lust among the terebinths
under every green tree,
that slaughter your children in the wadis
on the jagged rocks beneath the cliffs?
Is 57:1-5
6 Your destiny is among those smooth-stone fertility symbols
that you worship in those wadis; they’re your fate;
you pour out liquid offerings to them
and make grain offerings;
am I supposed to be appeased by stuff like that?
7 You’ve committed adultery on every high mountain
and gone up there to offer sacrifice to your idols.
8 You’ve put pagan symbols on the back of your doors
and on your doorposts;
you’ve deserted me and uncovered yourself
to your Temple prostitutes;
you’ve loved their bed
and looked at their nakedness.
Is 57:6-8
9 You’ve gone to Molech with olive oil
and lots of perfume;
you’ve sent your messengers far and wide,
even to Sheol.
10 You’ve worn yourselves out by your long search,
but you didn’t give up;
you found renewed strength and didn’t faint.
Is 57:9-10
11 “Who were you worried about and fearful of
when you lied and didn’t think about me?
12 I’ll tell everybody about your so-called good deeds,
but they won’t do you any good.
13 When you appealed for help,
did your collection of idols deliver you?
A gust of wind can pick them up;
a breath can blow them over.
But whoever takes refuge in me will inherit the land
and possess my holy mountain.”
Is 57:11-13
Comfort for the Contrite
14 God says,
“Fix the road; rebuild it;
get rid of every obstacle to my people.”
15 This is what the high and lofty One says
that lives forever, whose name is Holy:
“I live in a high and holy place
to revive the courage of the humble
and the heart of the repentant.
16 I won’t oppose you forever or always be angry;
the spirit and breath of the ones I’ve created
would lose spirit and give up.
17 I was angry and struck them
for their sinful, unjust gain;
I hid from them and was angry,
and they went on turning away in heart.
Is 57:14-17
18 I’ve seen their ways, but I’ll heal them anyway;
I’ll lead them, comfort their mourners,
19 and create praise from them.
Peace to the near and far;
I’ll heal them,” the LORD says.
20 “But sinful people are like a tossing sea;
it can’t relax;
it stirs up debris and mud.
21 There’s no peace for them,” my God says.
Is 57:18-21