Read Amplified Bible, 2015 Isaiah 57 Bible Online

Isaiah 57 - Amplified Bible, 2015 bible

Isaiah 57

¹The righteous man perishes [at the hand of evil], and no one takes it to heart; Faithful and devout men are taken away, while no one understands That the righteous person is taken away [to be spared] from disaster and evil.

²He enters into peace [through death]; They rest in their beds (graves), Each one who walked uprightly [following God's will, living with integrity].

³"But come here, you sons of a sorceress [raised in deception and superstition], Offspring of an adulterer and a prostitute.

⁴"Of whom do you make fun? Against whom do you open wide your mouth And stick out your tongue? Are you not children of rebellion (sin), Offspring of deceit,

⁵Who inflame yourselves [with lust in pagan rites] among the oaks (terebinth trees), Under every green and leafy tree, Who slaughter the children [in sacrifice] in the ravines Under the clefts of the rocks?

⁶"Among the smooth stones of the ravine Is your portion, they (the idols) are your lot; Even to them you have poured out a drink offering, You have offered a grain offering. Should I be quiet concerning these things [leaving them unpunished—bearing them with patience]?

⁷"Upon a high and lofty mountain You have [openly and shamelessly] made your [idolatrous and adulterous] bed; Even there you went up to offer sacrifice [to idols, in spiritual unfaithfulness to Me].

⁸"Behind the door and the doorpost You have set up your [pagan] symbol; Indeed, far removed from Me, you have uncovered yourself, And have gone up and made your bed wide. And you have made a [new] agreement for yourself with the adulterers, You have loved their bed, You have looked [with passion] on their[1] manhood.

⁹"You have gone to[2] the king [of a pagan land] with oil And increased your[3] perfumes; You have sent your messengers a great distance And made them go down to Sheol (the realm of the dead).

¹⁰"You were wearied by the length of your road, Yet you did not say, 'It is no use.' You found[4] renewed strength, Therefore you did not grow weak.

¹¹"About whom were you worried and fearful That you lied and did not[5] remember Me, Nor[6] give Me a thought? Was I not silent even for a long time And [as a result] you do not fear Me?

¹²"I will declare your [hypocritical] righteousness and your deeds, But they will not benefit you.

¹³"When you cry out [for help], let your [ridiculous] collection of idols save you. But the wind will carry them all away, A [mere] breath will take them. But he who takes refuge in Me will possess the land [Judea] And will inherit My holy mountain."

¹⁴And it will be said, "Build up, build up, clear the way. Remove the stumbling block out of the way [of the spiritual return] of My people."

¹⁵For the high and exalted One He who inhabits eternity, Whose name is Holy says this, "I dwell on the high and holy place, But also with the[7] contrite and humble in spirit In order to revive the spirit of the humble And to revive the heart of the contrite [overcome with sorrow for sin].

¹⁶"For I will not contend forever, Nor will I always be angry; For [if I did stay angry] the spirit [of man] would grow weak before Me, And the breath of those whom I have created.

¹⁷"Because of the wickedness of his unjust gain I was angry and struck him; I hid My face and was angry, And he went on turning away and backsliding, in the way of his [own willful] heart.

¹⁸"I have seen his [willful] ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him [also] and will restore comfort to him and to those who mourn for him,

¹⁹As I create the[8] praise of his lips, Peace, peace, to him who is far away [both Jew and Gentile] and to him who is near!" Says the LORD; "And I will heal him [making his lips blossom anew with thankful praise]."

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

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