Isaiah 57

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
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	1 The just man perishes, and there is no one who acknowledges it in his heart; and men of mercy are taken away, for there is no one who understands. For the just man has been taken away before the face of malice.
2 enters into peace; There is rest on his couch for the sincere, straightforward man.	2 Let peace arrive. Let he who has walked in his righteousness find rest on his bed.
3 But you, draw near, you sons of a sorceress, adulterous, wanton race!	3 But come here, you sons of the prophetess, you offspring of an adulterous man and a fornicating woman.
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;	4 Whom are you mocking? Against whom have you opened your mouth wide and wagged your tongue? Are you not sons of wickedness, a lying offspring,
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?	5 who are being consoled by idols under every leafy tree, immolating little children at the torrents, under the high rocks?
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?	6 Your portion is in the currents of the torrent; this is your lot! And you yourselves have poured out libations to them; you have offered sacrifice. Should I not be angry over these things?
7 Upon a high and lofty mountain you made your bed, and there you went up to offer sacrifice.	7 Upon a high and lofty mountain, you have placed your bed, and you have ascended to that place to immolate victims.
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	8 And behind the door, and beyond the post, you have set up your memorial. For you uncovered yourself next to me, and you received an adulterer. You widened your bed, and you formed a pact with them. You loved their bed with an open hand.
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.	9 And you have adorned yourself for the king with ointments, and you have increased your cosmetics. You have sent your representatives to distant places, and you have debased yourself all the way to Hell.
10 Though worn out by your many misdeeds, you never said, "It is hopeless"; New strength you found, and so you did not weaken.	10 You have been wearied by the multitude of your own ways. Yet you did not say, “I will cease.” You have found life by your own hand; because of this, you have not prayed.
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?	11 For whose sake have you been anxiously afraid, so that you would lie and not be mindful of me, nor consider me in your heart? For I am silent, and I am like someone who does not see, and so you have forgotten me.
12 I will expose your justice and your works;	12 I will announce your justice, and your works will not benefit you.
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.	13 When you cry out, let your followers free you. But the wind will carry them all away; a breeze will take them up. But he who has faith in me will inherit the earth and will possess my holy mountain.
14 Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove the stumbling blocks from my people's path.	14 And I will say: “Make way! Grant passage! Move to the side of the path! Take the obstacles out of the way of my people!”
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.	15 For this is said by the Most High, the Sublime One, who dwells in eternity. And his name is Holy, for he dwells in the exalted and holy place, and he acts with a restrained and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
16 I will not accuse forever, nor always be angry; For their spirits would faint before me, the souls that I have made.	16 For I will not contend unceasingly, and I will not be angry to the end. For I will exhale my breath, and the Spirit will go forth from my face.
17 Because of their wicked avarice I was angry, and struck them, hiding myself in wrath, as they went their own rebellious way.	17 Because of the iniquity of his avarice, I was angry, and I struck him down. I concealed my face from you, and I was angry. And he went astray by wandering in his heart.
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,	18 I saw his ways, and I healed him, and I led him back again, and I restored consolations to him and to those who mourn for him.
19 I, the Creator, who gave them life. Peace, peace to the far and the near, says the LORD; and I will heal them.	19 I created the fruit of the lips: peace, peace to him who is far away, and peace to him who is near, said the Lord, and I healed him.
20 But the wicked are like the tossing sea which cannot be calmed, And its waters cast up mud and filth.	20 But the impious are like the raging sea, which is not able to be quieted, and its waves stir up dirt and mud.
21 No peace for the wicked! says my God.	21 There is no peace for the impious, says the Lord God.