Isaiah 57

Isaiah Chapter 57
Good people pass away. The godly often die before their time
But no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to
Understand that God is protecting them from the evil to come
For those who follow godly paths will rest in peace when they die

But you, come here, you witch's children, you offspring of adulterers
And prostitutes! Whom do you mock, making faces and sticking out
Your tongues? You children of sinners and liars! You worship your
Idols with great passion beneath the oaks and under every green tree
You sacrifice your children down in the valleys, among the jagged
Rocks in the cliffs. Your gods are the smooth stones in the valleys
You worship them with liquid offerings and grain offerings. They
Not I—are your inheritance. Do you think all this makes me happy?
You have committed adultery on every high mountain. There you have
Worshiped idols and have been unfaithful to me. You have put pagan
Symbols on your doorposts and behind your doors. You have left me
And climbed into bed with these detestable gods. You have committed
Yourselves to them. You love to look at their naked bodies. You have
Gone to Molech with olive oil and many perfumes, sending your agents
Far and wide, even to the world of the dead. You grew weary in your
Search, but you never gave up. Desire gave you renewed strength
And you did not grow weary. Are you afraid of these idols? Do they
Terrify you? Is that why you have lied to me and forgotten me and my
Words? Is it because of my long silence that you no longer fear me?
Now I will expose your so-called good deeds. None of them will
Help you. Let's see if your idols can save you when you cry
To them for help. Why, a puff of wind can knock them down!
If you just breathe on them, they fall over! But whoever trusts
In me will inherit the land and possess my holy mountain

God says, "Rebuild the road! Clear away the rocks and stones so my
People can return from captivity." The High and Lofty One who lives
In eternity, the Holy One, says this: "I live in the high and holy
Place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore
The crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those
With repentant hearts. For I will not fight against you forever
I will not always be angry. If I were, all people would pass away
All the souls I have made. I was angry, so I punished these greedy
People. I withdrew from them, but they kept going on their own
Stubborn way. I have seen what they do, but I will heal them anyway
I will lead them. I will comfort those who mourn, bringing words of
Praise to their lips. May they have abundant peace, both near and
Far, says the Lord, who heals them. But those who still reject me
Are like the restless sea, which is never still but continually
Churns up mud and dirt. There is no
Peace for the wicked, says my God."