New Living Translation
Isaiah • Chapter 57
1
Good people pass away;<br>the godly often die before their time.<br>But no one seems to care or wonder why.<br>No one seems to understand<br>that God (Elohim) is protecting them from the evil to come.<br>
2
For those who follow godly paths<br>will rest in peace when they die.<br>
3
“But you — come here, you witches’ children,<br>you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes!<br>
4
Whom do you mock,<br>making faces and sticking out your tongues?<br>You children of sinners and liars!<br>
5
You worship your idols with great passion<br>beneath the oaks and under every green tree.<br>You sacrifice your children down in the valleys,<br>among the jagged rocks in the cliffs.<br>
6
Your gods are the smooth stones in the valleys.<br>You worship them with liquid offerings and grain offerings.<br>They, not I, are your inheritance.<br>Do you think all this makes me happy?<br>
7
You have committed adultery on every high mountain.<br>There you have worshiped idols<br>and have been unfaithful to me.<br>
8
You have put pagan symbols<br>on your doorposts and behind your doors.<br>You have left me<br>and climbed into bed with these detestable gods.<br>You have committed yourselves to them.<br>You love to look at their naked bodies.<br>
9
You have gone to Molech<br>with olive oil and many perfumes,<br>sending your agents far and wide,<br>even to the world of the dead.<br>
10
You grew weary in your search,<br>but you never gave up.<br>Desire gave you renewed strength,<br>and you did not grow weary.<br>
11
“Are you afraid of these idols?<br>Do they terrify you?<br>Is that why you have lied to me<br>and forgotten me and my words?<br>Is it because of my long silence<br>that you no longer fear me?<br>
12
Now I will expose your so-called good deeds.<br>None of them will help you.<br>
13
Let’s see if your idols can save you<br>when you cry to them for help.<br>Why, a puff of wind can knock them down!<br>If you just breathe on them, they fall over!<br>But whoever trusts in me will inherit the land<br>and possess my holy mountain.”<br>
14
God (Elohim) says, “Rebuild the road!<br>Clear away the rocks and stones<br>so my people can return from captivity.”<br>
15
The high and lofty one who lives in eternity,<br>the Holy One, says this:<br>“I live in the high and holy place<br>with those whose spirits are contrite and humble.<br>I restore the crushed spirit of the humble<br>and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.<br>
16
For I will not fight against you forever;<br>I will not always be angry.<br>If I were, all people would pass away —<br>all the souls I have made.<br>
17
I was angry,<br>so I punished these greedy people.<br>I withdrew from them,<br>but they kept going on their own stubborn way.<br>
18
I have seen what they do,<br>but I will heal them anyway!<br>I will lead them.<br>I will comfort those who mourn,<br>
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bringing words of praise to their lips.<br>May they have abundant peace, both near and far,”<br>says the LORD, who heals them.<br>
20
“But those who still reject me are like the restless sea,<br>which is never still<br>but continually churns up mud and dirt.<br>
21
There is no peace for the wicked,”<br>says my God (Elohim).<br>