Isaiah

The book of the prophet Isaiah, chapter 57, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 57 New English Translation

   1 The godly perish, but no one cares. Honest people disappear, when no one minds that the godly disappear because of evil.
   2 Those who live uprightly enter a place of peace; they rest on their beds.
   3 But approach, you sons of omen readers, you offspring of adulteresses and prostitutes!
   4 At whom are you laughing? At whom are you opening your mouth and sticking out your tongue? You are the children of rebels, the offspring of liars,
   5 you who practice ritual sex under the oaks and every green tree, who slaughter children near the streams under the rocky overhangs.
   6 Among the smooth stones of the stream are the idols you love; they, they are the object of your devotion. You pour out liquid offerings to them, you make an offering. Because of these things I will seek vengeance.
   7 On every high, elevated hill you prepare your bed; you go up there to offer sacrifices.
   8 Behind the door and doorpost you put your symbols. Indeed, you depart from me and go up and invite them into bed with you. You purchase favors from them, you love their bed, and gaze longingly on their genitals.
   9 You take olive oil as tribute to your king, along with many perfumes. You send your messengers to a distant place; you go all the way to Sheol.
   10 Because of the long distance you must travel, you get tired, but you do not say, 'I give up.' You get renewed energy, so you don't collapse.
   11 Whom are you worried about? Whom do you fear, that you would act so deceitfully and not remember me or think about me? Because I have been silent for so long, you are not afraid of me.
   12 I will denounce your so-called righteousness and your deeds, but they will not help you.
   13 When you cry out for help, let your idols help you! The wind blows them all away, a breeze carries them away. But the one who looks to me for help will inherit the land and will have access to my holy mountain."
   14 He says, "Build it! Build it! Clear a way! Remove all the obstacles out of the way of my people!"
   15 For this is what the high and exalted one says, the one who rules forever, whose name is holy: "I dwell in an exalted and holy place, but also with the discouraged and humiliated, in order to cheer up the humiliated and to encourage the discouraged.
   16 For I will not be hostile forever or perpetually angry, for then man's spirit would grow faint before me, the life-giving breath I created.
   17 I was angry because of their sinful greed; I attacked them and angrily rejected them, yet they remained disobedient and stubborn.
   18 I have seen their behavior, but I will heal them and give them rest, and I will once again console those who mourn.
   19 I am the one who gives them reason to celebrate. Complete prosperity is available both to those who are far away and those who are nearby," says the LORD, "and I will heal them.
   20 But the wicked are like a surging sea that is unable to be quiet; its waves toss up mud and sand.
   21 There will be no prosperity," says my God, "for the wicked."

King James Version

   1 The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.
   2 He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.
   3 ¶ But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the whore.
   4 Against whom do ye sport yourselves? against whom make ye a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue? are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood,
   5 Enflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys under the clifts of the rocks?
   6 Among the smooth stones of the stream is thy portion; they, they are thy lot: even to them hast thou poured a drink offering, thou hast offered a meat offering. Should I receive comfort in these?
   7 Upon a lofty and high mountain hast thou set thy bed: even thither wentest thou up to offer sacrifice.
   8 Behind the doors also and the posts hast thou set up thy remembrance: for thou hast discovered thyself to another than me, and art gone up; thou hast enlarged thy bed, and made thee a covenant with them; thou lovedst their bed where thou sawest it.
   9 And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase thyself even unto hell.
   10 Thou art wearied in the greatness of thy way; yet saidst thou not, There is no hope: thou hast found the life of thine hand; therefore thou wast not grieved.
   11 And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not?
   12 I will declare thy righteousness, and thy works; for they shall not profit thee.
   13 ¶ When thou criest, let thy companies deliver thee; but the wind shall carry them all away; vanity shall take them: but he that putteth his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain;
   14 And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people.
   15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
   16 For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.
   17 For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart.
   18 I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.
   19 I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him.
   20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
   21 There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.