Fluent Translation · Read & Reflect
Isaiah 57
Idolatry, Peace, and Healing
The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart.
People of faithful love are taken away,
and no one understands
that the righteous are taken away from evil.
They enter peace;
those who walk uprightly
rest upon their beds.
“But you, come here,
children of a sorceress,
offspring of an adulterer and a prostitute!
Whom are you mocking?
At whom do you open your mouths and stick out your tongues?
Are you not children of rebellion,
offspring of falsehood,
you who burn with passion among the oaks,
under every green tree,
who slaughter children in the ravines,
beneath the clefts of the rocks?
Your portion is among the ravine’s smooth stones;
they, they are your lot.
To them you poured drink offerings
and brought grain offerings.
Should I relent over these things?
On a high and lofty mountain
you placed your bed;
there too you went up to offer sacrifice.
Behind the door and doorpost
you placed your memorial.
Leaving me, you uncovered yourself and climbed up;
you widened your bed and made a pact with them.
You loved their bed;
you gazed on their nakedness.
You went to the king with oil
and multiplied your perfumes.
You sent your envoys far away
and sank as low as Sheol.
Your long journey wearied you,
but you did not say, ‘It is hopeless.’
You found fresh strength,
so you did not grow faint.
Whom did you dread and fear
that you lied,
forgot me and gave me no thought?
Was it because I kept silent so long
that you did not fear me?
I will expose your righteousness and your deeds;
they will not help you.
When you cry out, let your collection rescue you!
A wind will carry them all away;
a breath will take them.
But whoever takes refuge in me will inherit the land
and possess my holy mountain.”
And he will say, “Build up, build up! Clear the way!
Remove every obstacle from my people’s road.”
For this is what the high and exalted one says,
who dwells forever, whose name is Holy:
“I dwell in a high and holy place,
and with the crushed and lowly in spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly
and revive the heart of the crushed.
I will not contend forever
nor remain angry always,
for the spirit would faint before me,
the living breath of those I made.
His sinful greed angered me, and I struck him;
I hid myself in anger.
Yet he turned away and followed his own heart.
I have seen his ways, but I will heal him;
I will lead him and restore comfort
to him and to those who mourn for him,
creating the fruit of lips.
Peace, peace, to the far and the near,”
says the LORD, “and I will heal him.”
But the wicked are like a restless sea
that cannot be still,
whose waters toss up mud and mire.
“There is no peace for the wicked,” says my God.