Isaiah 57

¹ The just man perishes, but no one takes it to heart; Devout men are swept away, with no one giving it a thought. Though he is taken away from the presence of evil, the just man

² enters into peace; There is rest on his couch for the sincere, straightforward man.

³ But you, draw near, you sons of a sorceress, adulterous, wanton race!

⁴ Of whom do you make sport, at whom do you open wide your mouth, and put out your tongue? Are you not rebellious children, a worthless race;

⁵ You who are in heat among the terebinths, under every green tree; You who immolate children in the wadies, behind the crevices in the cliffs?

⁶ Among the smooth stones of the wadi is your portion, these are your lot; To these you poured out libations, and brought offerings. Should I decide not to punish these things?

⁷ Upon a high and lofty mountain you made your bed, and there you went up to offer sacrifice.

⁸ Behind the door and the doorpost you placed your indecent symbol. Deserting me, you spread out your high, wide bed; And of those whose embraces you love you carved the symbol and gazed upon it

⁹ While you approached the king with scented oil, and multiplied your perfumes; While you sent your ambassadors far away, down even to the nether world.

¹⁰ Though worn out by your many misdeeds, you never said, "It is hopeless"; New strength you found, and so you did not weaken.

¹¹ Of whom were you afraid? Whom did you fear, that you became false And did not remember me or give me any thought? Was I to remain silent and unseeing, so that you would not have me to fear?

¹² I will expose your justice and your works;

¹³ They shall not help you when you cry out, nor save you in your distress. All these the wind shall carry off, the breeze shall bear away; But he who takes refuge in me shall inherit the land, and possess my holy mountain.

¹⁴ Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove the stumbling blocks from my people's path.

¹⁵ For thus says he who is high and exalted, living eternally, whose name is the Holy One: On high I dwell, and in holiness, and with the crushed and dejected in spirit, To revive the spirits of the dejected, to revive the hearts of the crushed.

¹⁶ I will not accuse forever, nor always be angry; For their spirits would faint before me, the souls that I have made.

¹⁷ Because of their wicked avarice I was angry, and struck them, hiding myself in wrath, as they went their own rebellious way.

¹⁸ I saw their ways, but I will heal them and lead them; I will give full comfort to them and to those who mourn for them,

¹⁹ I, the Creator, who gave them life. Peace, peace to the far and the near, says the LORD; and I will heal them.

²⁰ But the wicked are like the tossing sea which cannot be calmed, And its waters cast up mud and filth.

²¹ No peace for the wicked! says my God.