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“But as for you, come here,
    you children of a sorceress,
        you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes![a]
Whom are you mocking?
    And[b] against whom do you make a wide mouth
        and stick out your tongue?
Are you not children of transgression,
    the offspring of lies,
you who burn with lust among the oaks,
    under every spreading tree,
who slaughter your children in the ravines,
    under the clefts of the rocks?

“Among the smooth stones[c] of the ravines is your portion—
    there they are as[d] your lot.
To them you have poured out drink offerings;
    you have brought grain offerings.
        Should I be lenient over such things?

“You have made your bed
    on a high and lofty mountain,
        and you went up to offer sacrifice there.
Behind the doors and the doorposts
    you have set up your pagan sign.”
For in deserting me you have uncovered your bed—
    you have climbed up into it
        and have opened it wide.
And you[e] have made a pact for yourself with them;
    you have loved their bed,
        you have looked on their private parts.[f]
You went to Molech[g] with olive oil
    and increased your perfumes;
you sent your ambassadors far away,
    you sent them down even to Sheol[h] itself!
10 You grew tired with your many wanderings,[i]
    but you wouldn’t say: ‘It is hopeless.’
You found new strength for your desire,
    and so you did not falter.

11 “Whom did you so dread—
    and while you feared me[j]
that you lied,
    and you did not remember me,
        and[k] did not lay to heart these things?[l]
Haven’t I remained silent for a long time,
    and still you don’t fear me?”

12 “I will denounce your righteousness[m] and your works,
    for your collections of idols[n] will not benefit you.
13 When you cry out, let your collection deliver you!
    The wind will carry them all off,
        and[o] a mere breath will sweep them all away.”

God’s Reward for the Faithful

“But whoever[p] takes refuge in me will possess the land,
    and will inherit my holy mountain.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 57:3 So LXX (cf. Syriac); 1QIsaa MT read she has practiced prostitution
  2. Isaiah 57:4 So 1QIsaa LXX; 1QIsab MT lack And
  3. Isaiah 57:6 I.e. among the idols
  4. Isaiah 57:6 So 1QIsaa; 4QIsai MT reads they—yes, they!—are; LXX reads there this is
  5. Isaiah 57:8 1QIsaa reads sing.; MT reads pl.
  6. Isaiah 57:8 Lit. their hand; i.e. a euphemism for the male sex organ
  7. Isaiah 57:9 I.e. to the Canaanite deity; or to the king
  8. Isaiah 57:9 I.e. the afterlife
  9. Isaiah 57:10 So 1QIsaa LXX; MT reads your wandering
  10. Isaiah 57:11 So 1QIsaa; 4QIsad MT LXX read and fear
  11. Isaiah 57:11 So 1QIsaa 4QIsad LXX; MT lacks and
  12. Isaiah 57:11 So 1QIsaa; 4QIsad MT lack thing; LXX reads lay me to heart
  13. Isaiah 57:12 1QIsaa MT; 4QIsad reads justice
  14. Isaiah 57:12 1QIsaa lacks of idols; 4QIsad MT LXX read for they
  15. Isaiah 57:13 So 1QIsaa LXX; MT lacks and
  16. Isaiah 57:13 Lit. But the one; so 4QIsad MT; 1QIsaa reads But one (i.e. without article)

“But[a] you, come near here, you children of a soothsayer,
    offspring of an adulterer and she who commits fornication.
At whom do you make fun?
    At whom do you open[b] your mouth and stick out[c] your tongue?
Are you not children of transgression,
    offspring of deception,
who burn with lust among the oaks,
    under every leafy tree,
who slaughter children in the valleys,
    under the clefts of the rocks?
Your portion is among the smooth stones of the valley;
    they, they are your lot;
indeed, to them you have poured out a drink offering,
    you have brought a food offering.

Shall I relent concerning these things?

You have set your bed upon a high and lofty mountain;
    indeed, you went up there to slaughter sacrifice.
And you have set your symbol behind the door and the doorpost;
    for you depart[d] from me, and you go up;
you make your bed wide, and you make a deal with[e] them,
    you have loved their bed; you have seen their genitals.[f]
And you climbed down to the king with oil,
    and you made your perfumes numerous,
and you sent your envoys far away,[g]
    and you sent down deep[h] to Sheol.
10 You grow weary by the greatness of your way,
    but you did not say, ‘Despairing!’
You found the renewal[i] of your strength,[j]
    therefore you do not grow weak.
11 And of whom were you afraid and feared, that you deceived
    and did not remember me?
    Did you not place it on your heart?
Have I not been silent, even from long ago,
    and so you do not fear me?
12 I myself will declare your righteousness and your works,
    but[k] they will not benefit you.
13 When you cry,[l] let your collection deliver you,
    and the wind will carry all of them away;
    a breath will take them away.
But[m] he who takes refuge in me shall take possession of the land,
    and he shall inherit my holy mountain.”[n]

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 57:3 Or “And”
  2. Isaiah 57:4 Literally “widen”
  3. Isaiah 57:4 Literally “make long”
  4. Isaiah 57:8 The reading tradition (Qere) has “uncover,” which makes no sense in context, but with different vowels it would be “depart”
  5. Isaiah 57:8 Literally “cut off for yourself from”
  6. Isaiah 57:8 Literally “hand”
  7. Isaiah 57:9 Literally “to from far”
  8. Isaiah 57:9 Literally “humiliated”
  9. Isaiah 57:10 Literally “life”
  10. Isaiah 57:10 Literally “hand;” compare the “hand” in verse 8
  11. Isaiah 57:12 Or “and”
  12. Isaiah 57:13 Literally “your crying”
  13. Isaiah 57:13 Or “And”
  14. Isaiah 57:13 Literally “mountain of holiness “