Isaiah 57

¹ The 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,

² he enters into peace; they rest in their beds who walk in their uprightness.

³ But you, draw near hither, sons of the sorceress, offspring of the adulterer and the harlot.

⁴ Of 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,

⁵ you who burn with lust among the oaks, under every green tree; who slay your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?

⁶ Among 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?

⁷ Upon a high and lofty mountain you have set your bed, and thither you went up to offer sacrifice.

⁸ Behind 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.

⁹ You journeyed to Molech with oil and multiplied your perfumes; you sent your envoys far off, and sent down even to Sheol.

¹⁰ You 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.

¹¹ Whom 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?

¹² I will tell of your righteousness and your doings, but they will not help you.

¹³ When 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.

¹⁴ And it shall be said, "Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction from my people's way."

¹⁵ 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.

¹⁶ For 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.

¹⁷ Because 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.

¹⁸ I 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 Peace, peace, to the far and to the near, says the LORD; and I will heal him.

²⁰ But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot rest, and its waters toss up mire and dirt.

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