Isaiah, 57

1. The upright person perishes and no one cares. The faithful is taken off and no one takes it to heart. Yes, because of the evil times the upright is taken off;

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 will enter peace, and those who follow the right way will find rest on their beds.

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

3. But you, you children of a witch, come here, adulterous race prostituting yourselves!

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

4. At whom are you jeering, at whom are you making faces and sticking out your tongue? Are you not the spawn of rebellion, a lying race?

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. Lusting among the terebinths, and under every spreading tree, sacrificing children in the ravines, below the clefts in the rocks.

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. The smooth stones of the ravines will be your portion, yes, these will be your lot. To these you have poured libations, have brought your cereal offering. Can all this appease me?

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. On a mountain high and lofty you have put your bed. Thither, too, you have climbed to offer sacrifice.

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

8. Behind door and doorpost you have set your reminder. Yes, far from me, you exposed yourself, climbed on to your bed, and made the most of it. You struck a profitable bargain with those whose bed you love, whoring with them often, with your eyes on the sacred symbol.

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 went to Molech with oil, you were prodigal with your perfumes; you sent your envoys far afield, down to Sheol itself.

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

10. Though tired by so much travelling, you never said, 'It is no use.' Finding your strength revive, you never gave up.

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. Who was it you dreaded, and feared, that you should betray me, no longer remember me and not spare a thought for me? Was I not silent for a long time? So you cannot have been afraid of me.

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. Now I shall expose this uprightness of yours, and little good it did you.

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

13. When you cry for help, let those thronging round you save you! The wind will carry them all away, one puff will take them off. But whoever trusts in me will inherit the country, he will own my holy mountain.

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. Then it will be said: Level up, level up, clear the way, remove the obstacle from my people's way,

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 Exalted One who lives eternally and whose name is holy, 'I live in the holy heights but I am with the contrite and humble, to revive the spirit of the humble, to revive the heart of the contrite.

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 do not want to be forever accusing nor always to be angry, or the spirit would fail under my onslaught, the souls that I myself have made.

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. 'Angered by his wicked cupidity, I hid and struck him in anger, but he rebelliously went the way of his choice.

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 saw how he behaved, but I shall heal him, I shall lead him, fill him with consolation, him and those who mourn for him,

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. bringing praise to their lips. Peace, peace to far and near, Yahweh says, and I shall heal him.'

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

20. The wicked, however, are like the restless sea that cannot be still, whose waters throw up mud and dirt.

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

21. 'No peace', says Yahweh, 'for the wicked.'

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