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“But draw near, you sons of a (A)soothsayer,
(B)Seed of an adulterer and [a]a (C)prostitute.
Against whom do you jest?
Against whom do you open wide your mouth
And stick out your tongue?
Are you not children of (D)transgression,
Seed of lying,
Who inflame yourselves among the [b](E)oaks,
(F)Under every green tree,
Who (G)slaughter the children in the [c]ravines,
Under the clefts of the cliffs?
Among the [d](H)smooth stones of the [e]ravine
Is your portion, [f]they are your lot;
Even to them you have (I)poured out a drink offering;
You have made a grain offering.
Shall I [g](J)relent concerning these things?
Upon a mountain (K)lofty and lifted up
You have (L)made your bed.
You also went up there to offer sacrifice.
Behind the door and the doorpost
You have set up your memorial;
Indeed, far removed from Me, you have (M)uncovered yourself,
And have gone up and made your bed wide,
And you have cut a covenant for yourself with them;
You have loved their [h]bed;
You have looked on their [i]manhood.
You have journeyed to the king with oil
And increased your perfumes;
You have (N)sent your envoys a great distance
And made them go down to Sheol.
10 You were tired out by the length of your road,
Yet you did not say, ‘(O)It is hopeless.’
You found [j]renewed strength;
Therefore you did not [k]faint.

11 “Of (P)whom were you anxious and fearful
When you lied and did (Q)not remember Me,
Nor even (R)put Me upon your heart?
Was I not silent even for a long time
So you do not fear Me?
12 I will (S)declare your righteousness and your (T)deeds,
But they will not profit you.
13 When you cry out, (U)let your collection of idols deliver you.
But the wind will lift all of them up,
And a breath will take them away.
But he who (V)takes refuge in Me will (W)inherit the land
And will (X)possess My holy mountain.”

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 57:3 As in ancient versions; Heb she prostitutes herself
  2. Isaiah 57:5 Or terebinths
  3. Isaiah 57:5 Or wadis
  4. Isaiah 57:6 Symbols of fertility gods
  5. Isaiah 57:6 Or wadi
  6. Isaiah 57:6 Lit they, they
  7. Isaiah 57:6 Or regret, be comforted; cf. 40:1
  8. Isaiah 57:8 Or lying down
  9. Isaiah 57:8 Lit hand
  10. Isaiah 57:10 Lit the life of your hand
  11. Isaiah 57:10 Or become sick

“But come here,
(A)You sons of the sorceress,
You offspring of the adulterer and the harlot!
Whom do you ridicule?
Against whom do you make a wide mouth
And stick out the tongue?
Are you not children of transgression,
Offspring of falsehood,
Inflaming yourselves with gods (B)under every green tree,
(C)Slaying the children in the valleys,
Under the clefts of the rocks?
Among the smooth (D)stones of the stream
Is your portion;
They, they, are your lot!
Even to them you have poured a drink offering,
You have offered a grain offering.
Should I receive comfort in (E)these?

“On(F) a lofty and high mountain
You have set (G)your bed;
Even there you went up
To offer sacrifice.
Also behind the doors and their posts
You have set up your remembrance;
For you have uncovered yourself to those other than Me,
And have gone up to them;
You have enlarged your bed
And [a]made a covenant with them;
(H)You have loved their bed,
Where you saw their [b]nudity.
(I)You went to the king with ointment,
And increased your perfumes;
You sent your (J)messengers far off,
And even descended to Sheol.
10 You are wearied in the length of your way;
(K)Yet you did not say, ‘There is no hope.’
You have found the life of your hand;
Therefore you were not grieved.

11 “And (L)of whom have you been afraid, or feared,
That you have lied
And not remembered Me,
Nor taken it to your heart?
Is it not because (M)I have [c]held My peace from of old
That you do not fear Me?
12 I will declare your righteousness
And your works,
For they will not profit you.
13 When you cry out,
Let your collection of idols deliver you.
But the wind will carry them all away,
A breath will take them.
But he who puts his trust in Me shall possess the land,
And shall inherit My holy mountain.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 57:8 Lit. cut
  2. Isaiah 57:8 Lit. hand, a euphemism
  3. Isaiah 57:11 remained silent