Isa 57 | HCSB | STEP | The righteous one perishes , and no one takes it to heart ; faithful men are swept away , with no one realizing that the righteous one is swept away from the presence of evil .

‏ Isaiah 57

1 The righteous one perishes,

and no one takes it to heart;
faithful men are swept away,
with no one realizing
that the righteous one is swept away
from the presence ^{▼▼Or away because} of evil.
2 He will enter into peace –
they will rest on their beds ^{▼▼Either their deathbeds or their graves} –
everyone who lives uprightly.

Pagan Religion Denounced

3 But come here,
you sons of a sorceress,
offspring of an adulterer and a prostitute! ^{▼▼Lit and she acted as a prostitute}
4 Who is it you are mocking?
Who is it you are opening your mouth
and sticking out your tongue at?
Isn’t it you, you rebellious children, ^d
you race of liars,
5 who burn with lust among the oaks,
under every green tree, ^e
who slaughter children in the ^{▼▼wadi: A seasonal stream that flows only in the rainy season}wadis
below the clefts of the rocks? ^g
6 Your portion is among the smooth stones of the wadi;
indeed, they are your lot.
You have even poured out a ^{▼▼drink offering: An offering of a specified amount of wine or beer given along with animal sacrifices; it was poured over the sacrifice before it was burned.}drink offering to them;
you have offered a ^{▼▼grain offering(s): An offering given along with animal sacrifices or given by itself. A portion was burnt and the priests and participant ate the remainder.}grain offering;
should I be satisfied with these?
7 You have placed your bed
on a high and lofty mountain; ^j
you also went up there to offer sacrifice.
8 You have set up your memorial
behind the door and doorpost.
For away from Me, you stripped,
went up, and made your bed wide, ^k
and you have made a bargain ^{▼▼Lit you cut} for yourself with them.
You have loved their bed;
you have gazed on their genitals. ^{▼▼Lit hand
,} ^{▼▼In Hb, the word hand is probably a euphemism for “genitals.”}
9 You went to the king with oil
and multiplied your perfumes;
you sent your couriers far away ^o
and sent them down even to ^{▼▼Sheol: A Hebrew word for either the grave or the realm of the dead}Sheol.
10 You became weary on your many journeys,
but you did not say, “I give up!” ^q
You found a renewal of your strength; ^{▼▼Lit found life of your hand}
therefore you did not grow weak.
11 Who was it you dreaded and feared,
so that you lied and didn’t remember Me
or take it to heart?
Have I not kept silent for such a long time ^{▼▼LXX reads And I, when I see you, I pass by
,} ^t
and you do not ^{▼▼fear(s) God or the Lord/ the fear of the Lord: No single English word conveys every aspect of the word fear in this phrase. The meaning includes worshipful submission, reverential awe, and obedient respect to the covenant-keeping God of Israel.}fear Me?
12 I will expose your righteousness,
and your works – they will not profit you.
13 When you cry out,
let your collection of idols deliver you!
The wind will carry all of them off,
a breath will take them away.
But whoever takes refuge in Me
will inherit the land ^v
and possess My holy mountain. ^w

Healing and Peace

14 He said,
“Build it up, build it up, prepare the way,
remove every obstacle from My people’s way.” ^x
15 For the High and Exalted One
who lives forever, whose name is Holy ^y says this:
“I live in a high and holy place,
and with the oppressed and lowly of spirit, ^z
to revive the spirit of the lowly
and revive the heart of the oppressed. ^aa
16 For I will not accuse you forever,
and I will not always be angry; ^ab
for then the spirit would grow weak before Me,
even the breath of man, which I have made.
17 Because of his sinful greed I was angry, ^ac
so I struck him; I was angry and hid; ^{▼▼Lit him; hiding and I am angry}
but he went on turning back to the desires of his heart.
18 I have seen his ways, but I will heal him;
I will lead him and restore comfort
to him and his mourners, ^ae
19 creating words of praise.” ^{▼▼Lit creating fruit of the lips
,} ^ag
The Lord says,
“Peace, peace to the one who is far or near, ^ah
and I will heal him.
20 But the wicked are like the storm-tossed sea, ^ai
for it cannot be still,
and its waters churn up mire and muck.
21 There is no peace for the wicked,”
says my God. ^aj