Isaiah 57

Israel’s Futile Idolatry

1 The righteous man perishes,

and no one lays it to heart;

*Ps. 12:1devout men are taken away,

while no one understands.

For the righteous man is taken away from calamity;

2 *[Luke 2:29] he enters into peace;

they rest *2 Chr. 16:14;Ezek. 32:25in their beds

who walk in their uprightness.

3 But you, draw near,

sons of the sorceress,

*[John 8:41,42]offspring of the adulterer and the loose woman.

4 Whom are you mocking?

Against whom *[Ps. 35:21] do you open your mouth wide

and stick out your tongue?

Are you not children of *ch. 46:8,9transgression,

*[ch. 1:4]the offspring of deceit,

5 you who burn with lust among *ch. 1:29;2 Kgs. 16:4the oaks,*57:5 Or among the terebinths

under every green tree,

*Ezek. 16:20,21who slaughter your children in the valleys,

under the clefts of the rocks?

6 Among the smooth stones of *[2 Kgs. 23:10]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 relent for these things?

7 *1 Kgs. 14:23;Ezek. 16:16,24On a high and lofty mountain

you have set your bed,

and there you went up to offer sacrifice.

8 Behind the door and the doorpost

you have set up your memorial;

for, deserting me, *Ezek. 16:25;[Hos. 1:2] you have uncovered your bed,

you have gone up to it,

*[Ezek. 23:17]you have made it wide;

and you have made a covenant for yourself with them,

you have loved their bed,

you have looked on nakedness.*57:8 Or on a monument (see 56:5); Hebrew on a hand

9 You journeyed to the king with oil

and multiplied your perfumes;

*Ezek. 16:26,28,29you sent your envoys far off,

and sent down even to Sheol.

10 You were wearied with the length of your way,

*Jer. 2:25;18:12but you did not say, "It is hopeless";

you found new life for your strength,

and so you were not faint.*57:10 Hebrew and so you were not sick

11 *[ch. 51:12,13] Whom did you dread and fear,

*Ps. 78:10,36so that you lied,

and did not remember me,

did not lay it to heart?

*Ps. 50:21Have I not held my peace, even for a long time,

and you do not fear me?

12 I will declare your righteousness and your deeds,

but they will not profit you.

13 *Jer. 11:12When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you!

The wind will carry them all off,

a breath will take them away.

*Ps. 37:9But he who takes refuge in me shall possess the land

and shall inherit *ch. 11:9;56:7;65:11,25my holy mountain.

Comfort for the Contrite

14 And it shall be said,

*ch. 62:10;[ch. 40:3]"Build up, build up, prepare the way,

remove every obstruction from my people’s way."

15 For thus says *[Mic. 6:6] the One who is high and lifted up,

who inhabits eternity, whose name is *Luke 1:49Holy:

*Ps. 113:6"I dwell in the high and holy place,

and also *Ps. 34:18;138:6with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,

*[ch. 42:3]to revive the spirit of the lowly,

and to revive the heart of the contrite.

16 *Gen. 6:3;Ps. 103:9For I will not contend forever,

nor will I always be angry;

for the spirit would grow faint before me,

and the breath of life that I made.

17 Because of the iniquity of his *ch. 56:11;Jer. 6:13unjust gain I was angry,

I struck him; I hid my face and was angry,

but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart.

18 I have seen his ways, *Jer. 3:22but I will heal him;

I will lead him *ch. 61:3and restore comfort to him and his mourners,

19 *ch. 50:4creating *Heb. 13:15the fruit of the lips.

*[Eph. 2:17] Peace, peace, *Acts 2:39to the far and to the near," says the Lord,

*[See ver. 18above]"and I will heal him.

20 *Jude 13But the wicked are like the tossing sea;

for it cannot be quiet,

and its waters toss up mire and dirt.

21 *ch. 48:22There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked."