IsaiahChapter 57

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¹The righteous perish,
and no one thinks about it.
People who love God are taken away,
and no one understands
that the righteous are taken away
to be kept from evil. ²Those who live right go into peace.
They find rest as they lie down in death. ³"But come here, you children of a witch!
You children of men who cheat on their wives
and women who sell their bodies! ⁴Who are you making fun of?
Who are you laughing at and sticking your tongue out at?
Aren't you children of sin?
Aren't you a family of liars? ⁵You burn with lust among the oak trees,
under every green tree.
You kill your children in the valleys,
under the cracks in the rocks. ⁶Your share is among the smooth stones of the valley.
Yes, they are what you get.
You have even poured out drink offerings to them.
You have given them grain offerings.
Should I calm down because of these things? ⁷You have made your bed on a high hill.
You went up there to offer sacrifices. ⁸You set up your sign
behind your door and doorpost.
You forsook me and uncovered your bed.
You climbed into it and opened it wide.
You made a deal with those whose beds you love.
You looked at their naked bodies. ⁹You went to Molech with oil.
You used lots of perfume.
You sent your messengers far away.
You went down even to the grave itself.a ¹⁰Your many trips wore you out.
But you did not say, "It's no use!"
You found new strength,
so you did not grow weak. ¹¹Who were you so afraid of
that you lied?
You did not remember me
or think about this.
I have been silent for a long time.
Is that why you do not fear me? ¹²I will show what your so-called rightness is,
and what you have done.
They will not help you. ¹³When you cry out for help,
let your collection of idols save you!
The wind will carry them all off.
A breath will blow them away.
But whoever comes to me for safety
will receive the land.
He will own my holy mountain." ¹⁴And someone will say,
"Build up the road, build it up!
Get the way ready!
Take everything out of the way of my people
that makes them trip." ¹⁵For this is what the High and Lifted Up One says.
He lives forever, and his name is Holy.
"I live in a high and holy place.
But I also live with those who are crushed and humble in spirit.
I give new life to the spirit of the humble.
I give new life to the heart of those who are sorry for their sins. ¹⁶For I will not accuse you forever.
I will not always be angry.
If I did, people's spirits would grow weak before me.
The breath of life I made would fail. ¹⁷I was very angry because of his sinful greed.
So I struck him.
I hid my face in anger.
But he kept going back to what his heart wanted. ¹⁸I have seen his ways, but I will heal him.
I will guide him.
I will comfort him again,
and I will comfort those who mourn for him. ¹⁹I will put praise on their lips.
Peace, peace to those far and near,"
says the LORD.
"And I will heal them." ²⁰But the wicked are like a sea tossed by a storm.
It cannot be still.
Its waves stir up mud and dirt. ²¹"There is no peace for the wicked,"
says my God.