Isaiah 57

1The righteous man perishes, and no one takes it to heart; men of faithful love are gathered away, with no one understanding that the righteous man is gathered away because of evil.

2He enters into peace; they rest on their beds, each one who walks in his uprightness.

3But you—come here, sons of a sorceress, offspring of an adulterer and a prostitute.

4At whom do you sport yourselves? Against whom do you open your mouth wide and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, offspring of deceit?

5you who burn with lust among the terebinths, under every green tree, who slaughter the children in the wadis, under the clefts of the rocks.

6Among the smooth stones of the valley is your portion; they, they are your lot. Even to them you have poured out a drink offering; you have offered up a grain offering. Shall I relent because of these things?

7On a high and lofty mountain you set your bed; there too you went up to sacrifice a sacrifice.

8Behind the door and the doorpost you set up your memorial; for away from me you uncovered yourself and went up; you made your bed wide, and you made a covenant for yourself with them; you loved their bed; you looked on a hand.

9You journeyed to the king with oil, and multiplied your perfumes; you sent your envoys far away, and debased yourself even to Sheol.

10In the multitude of your ways you grew weary, yet you did not say, ‘It is hopeless.’ You found renewed strength in your hand; therefore you did not grow weak.

11And whom did you dread and fear, so that you lied and did not remember me, did not lay it to your heart? Was it not because I have kept silent, and that from long ago, that you do not fear me?

12I myself will declare your righteousness and your works, but they will not profit you.

13When you cry out, let your gathered idols rescue you! But the wind will carry all of them off; a breath will take them away. But whoever takes refuge in me will inherit the land and possess my holy mountain.

14And it will be said, “Build up, build up; clear the way; remove the stumbling block from the way of my people.”

15For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with the crushed and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the crushed.”

16For I will not contend forever, nor will I be angry without end, for the spirit would grow faint before me, and the breaths that I have made.

17Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry, and I struck him; I hid myself and was angry, and he went on backsliding in the way of his heart.

18I have seen his ways, and I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comforts to him and to his mourners.

19Creating the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace to the one far off and to the one near, says Yahweh, and I will heal him.

20But the wicked are like the tossing sea, for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and mud.

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