Isaiah 57 — AAB
The Blessed Death of the Righteous
57Verse 1The righteous perish,and no one takes it to heart;devout men are taken away,while no one considersthat the righteous are taken awayfrom the presence of evil.Verse 2Those who walk uprightly enter into peace;they find rest, lying down in death.God Condemns Idolatry
Verse 3+Verse 4Whom are you mocking?At whom do you sneer and stick out your tongue?Are you not children of transgression,offspring of deceit,Verse 5who burn with lust+among the oaks,under every luxuriant tree,who slaughter your children in the valleys,under the clefts of the rocks?Verse 6Your portion is among the smooth stones+of the valley;indeed, they are your lot.Even to them you have poured out a drink offeringand offered a grain offering.Should I relent because of these?Verse 7On a high and lofty hill you have made your bed,+and there you went up to offer sacrifices.Verse 8Behind the door and doorpostyou have set up your memorial.+Forsaking Me, you uncovered your bed;you climbed up and opened it wide.And you have made a pact with those whose bed you have loved;you have gazed upon their nakedness.Verse 9You went to Molech+with oiland multiplied your perfumes.You have sent your envoys+a great distance;you have descended even to Sheol itself.Verse 10You are wearied by your many journeys,but you did not say, “There is no hope!”You found renewal of your strength;therefore you did not grow weak.Verse 11Whom have you dreaded and feared,so that you lied and failed
to remember Me or take this to heart?Is it not because I have long been silentthat you do not fear Me?Verse 12I will expose your righteousness and your works,and they will not profit you.Verse 13When you cry out,let your companies of idols deliver you!Yet the wind will carry off all of them,a breath will take them away.But he who seeks refuge in Me will inherit the landand possess My holy mountain.”Healing for the RepentantVerse 14And it will be said,
“Build it up, build it up, prepare the way,take every obstacle out of the way of My people.”Verse 15For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
“I dwell in a high and holy place,and with the oppressed and humble in spirit,to restore the spirit of the lowlyand revive the heart of the contrite.Verse 16For I will not accuse you forever,nor will I always be angry;for then the spirit of man would grow weak before Me—the breath of life I have made.Verse 17I was enraged by his sinful greed,so I struck him and hid My face in anger;yet he kept turning backto the desires of his heart.Verse 18I have seen his ways,but I will heal him;I will guide him and restore comfortto him and his mourners,
Verse 19bringing praise to their lips.Peace, peace to those far and near,” says the LORD,“and I will heal them.”Verse 20But the wicked are like the storm-tossed sea,for it cannot be still,
and its waves churn up mire and muck.Verse 21“There is no peace,” says my God,“for the wicked.”