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The Coming Judgment Against Israel’s Leaders

But you there, come closer,
you children of a witch,
you offspring of an adulterer and a prostitute.
Who are you mocking?[a]
Who are you making faces at and sticking out your tongue at?
Aren’t you all children born in rebellion,
the offspring of deceit,
you who are in heat among the oaks and under every green tree,
you who slaughter children in the ravines under the rugged cliffs?
Your chosen territory is among the smooth stones of the ravines.
They, yes, they, are your lot.
You even poured out a drink offering to them,
and you offered up a grain offering.
Since you have done these things, should I spare you?
Upon a mountain, high and lofty, you spread out your bed.
Yes, you went up there to offer a sacrifice.
Behind the door and doorpost you placed your memorial.
Yes, you deserted me and uncovered yourself.[b] You climbed right into bed.
You made room for them in your bed.
You committed yourself to them.
You loved their bed.
You stared at their bodies.[c]
You traveled to deliver offerings of fragrant oil to the king,[d]
and you made many offerings of incense.
You sent your messengers to a distant land.
You sent them as far as hell.[e]
10 Because of the length of your journey, you became weary,
but you did not say, “It is hopeless!”
So you found new strength, and you did not faint.
11 But who is making you so anxious and so afraid that you
    practice deception?
You did not remember me
and did not keep me in your heart.
Is it because I have been silent for a long time
    that you do not fear me?
12 I will declare your righteousness and your deeds,
but they will not benefit you.
13 When you cry out for help,
let your collections of idols deliver you.
But the wind will blow them all away.
A breeze will take them away.
But the one who takes refuge in me will inherit the land.
He will possess my holy mountain.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 57:4 EHV generally preserves the distinction between who and whom but recognizes that it is rapidly disappearing in speech.
  2. Isaiah 57:8 Or your bed
  3. Isaiah 57:8 The base meaning of the Hebrew word yad is hand, but here it seems to be a euphemism for genitals.
  4. Isaiah 57:9 Or Molek
  5. Isaiah 57:9 Hebrew sheol

“But you—come here, you children of a sorceress,(A)
    you offspring of adulterers(B) and prostitutes!(C)
Who are you mocking?
    At whom do you sneer
    and stick out your tongue?
Are you not a brood of rebels,(D)
    the offspring of liars?
You burn with lust among the oaks(E)
    and under every spreading tree;(F)
you sacrifice your children(G) in the ravines
    and under the overhanging crags.
The idols(H) among the smooth stones of the ravines are your portion;
    indeed, they are your lot.
Yes, to them you have poured out drink offerings(I)
    and offered grain offerings.
    In view of all this, should I relent?(J)
You have made your bed on a high and lofty hill;(K)
    there you went up to offer your sacrifices.(L)
Behind your doors and your doorposts
    you have put your pagan symbols.
Forsaking me, you uncovered your bed,
    you climbed into it and opened it wide;
you made a pact with those whose beds you love,(M)
    and you looked with lust on their naked bodies.(N)
You went to Molek[a](O) with olive oil
    and increased your perfumes.(P)
You sent your ambassadors[b](Q) far away;
    you descended to the very realm of the dead!(R)
10 You wearied(S) yourself by such going about,
    but you would not say, ‘It is hopeless.’(T)
You found renewal of your strength,(U)
    and so you did not faint.

11 “Whom have you so dreaded and feared(V)
    that you have not been true to me,
and have neither remembered(W) me
    nor taken this to heart?(X)
Is it not because I have long been silent(Y)
    that you do not fear me?
12 I will expose your righteousness and your works,(Z)
    and they will not benefit you.
13 When you cry out(AA) for help,
    let your collection of idols save(AB) you!
The wind will carry all of them off,
    a mere breath will blow(AC) them away.
But whoever takes refuge(AD) in me
    will inherit the land(AE)
    and possess my holy mountain.”(AF)

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 57:9 Or to the king
  2. Isaiah 57:9 Or idols