Isaiah 57 YLT
Summary: Isaiah observes that the righteous perish while no one takes it to heart, though in fact they are taken away from coming evil and enter into peace and rest. He then sharply condemns idolatrous practices — child sacrifice in valleys, worship under trees, offerings to Molech, and reliance on kings and diplomatic alliances instead of the LORD, exposing spiritual adultery in graphic terms. Yet the LORD who inhabits eternity declares He also dwells with the contrite and humble in spirit, to revive them, and though He was angry and struck His covetous people, He will now heal, lead, and restore comfort to mourners, creating "the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near" (v. 19). The chapter closes with the now-familiar refrain that there is no peace for the wicked.
1The righteous hath perished, And there is none laying it to heart, And men of kindness are gathered, Without any considering that from the face of evil Gathered is the righteous one.
2He entereth into peace, they rest on their beds, Each is going straightforward.
3And ye, come near hither, O sons of a sorceress, seed of an adulterer, Even thou dost commit whoredom.
4Against whom do ye sport yourselves? Against whom enlarge ye the mouth? Prolong ye the tongue? Are not ye children of transgression? a false seed?
5Who are inflamed among oaks, under every green tree, Slaughtering the children in valleys, Under clefts of the rocks.
6Among the smooth things of a brook is thy portion, They--they are thy lot, Also to them thou hast poured out an oblation, Thou hast caused a present to ascend, For these things am I comforted?
7On a mountain, high and exalted, Thou hast set thy couch, Also thither thou hast gone up to make a sacrifice.
8And behind the door, and the post, Thou hast set up thy memorial, For from Me thou hast removed, and goest up, Thou hast enlarged thy couch, And dost covenant for thyself among them, Thou hast loved their couch, the station thou sawest,
9And goest joyfully to the king in ointment, And dost multiply thy perfumes, And sendest thine ambassadors afar off, And humblest thyself unto Sheol.
10In the greatness of thy way thou hast laboured, Thou hast not said, `It is desperate.' The life of thy hand thou hast found, Therefore thou hast not been sick.
11And of whom hast thou been afraid, and fearest, That thou liest, and Me hast not remembered? Thou hast not laid it to thy heart, Am not I silent, even from of old? And Me thou fearest not?
12I declare thy righteousness, and thy works, And they do not profit thee.
13When thou criest, let thy gatherings deliver thee, And all of them carry away doth wind, Take away doth vanity, And whoso is trusting in Me inheriteth the land, And doth possess My holy mountain.
14And he hath said, `Raise up, raise up, prepare a way, Lift a stumbling-block out of the way of My people.'
15For thus said the high and exalted One, Inhabiting eternity, and holy is His name: `In the high and holy place I dwell, And with the bruised and humble of spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of bruised ones,'
16For, not to the age do I strive, nor for ever am I wroth, For the spirit from before Me is feeble, And the souls I have made.
17For the iniquity of his dishonest gain, I have been wroth, and I smite him, Hiding--and am wroth, And he goeth on turning back in the way of his heart.
18His ways I have seen, and I heal him, yea, I lead him, And recompense comforts to him and to his mourning ones.
19Producing the fruit of the lips, `Peace, peace,' to the far off, and to the near, And I have healed him, said Jehovah.
20And the wicked are as the driven out sea, For to rest it is not able, And its waters cast out filth and mire.
21There is no peace, said my God, to the wicked!
Also read this chapter in: KJV, WEB, ASV, WYC, GNV, WBT, DBY