Isaiah, 57

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 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;

2. enters into peace; There is rest on his couch for the sincere, straightforward man.

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

3. But you, draw near, you sons of a sorceress, adulterous, wanton race!

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

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. 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?

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

7. Upon a high and lofty mountain you made your bed, and there you went up to offer sacrifice.

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

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. 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.

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

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

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. 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.

12. I will expose your justice and your works;

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

14. Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove the stumbling blocks from my people's path.

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

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 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.

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 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.

17. Because of their wicked avarice I was angry, and struck them, hiding myself in wrath, as they went their own rebellious way.

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

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 how he behaved, but I shall heal him, I shall lead him, fill him with consolation, him and 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. bringing praise to their lips. Peace, peace to far and near, Yahweh says, and I shall heal him.'

20. But the wicked are like the tossing sea which cannot be calmed, And its waters cast up mud and filth.

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

21. No peace for the wicked! says my God.

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