“But come here, you sons of a (A)sorceress,
(B)Offspring of an adulterer and [a]a (C)prostitute!
Of whom do you make fun?
Against whom do you open wide your mouth
And stick out your tongue?
Are you not children of (D)rebellion,
Offspring of deceit,
Who inflame yourselves among the (E)oaks,
(F)Under every luxuriant tree,
Who (G)slaughter the children in the [b]ravines,
Under the clefts of the rocks?
Among the [c](H)smooth stones of the [d]ravine
Is your portion, [e]they are your lot;
Even to them you have (I)poured out a drink offering,
You have made a grain offering.
Should I [f](J)relent of these things?
On a (K)high and lofty mountain
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 sign;
Indeed, far removed from Me, you have (M)uncovered yourself,
And have gone up and made your bed wide.
And you have made an agreement for yourself with them,
You have loved their bed,
You have looked at their [g]manhood.
You have journeyed to the king with oil
And increased your perfumes;
You have (N)sent your messengers a great distance
And made them go down to [h]Sheol.
10 You were tired out by the length of your road,
Yet you did not say, ‘(O)It is hopeless!’
You found [i]renewed strength,
Therefore you did not [j]faint.

11 “Of (P)whom were you worried and fearful
When you lied, and did (Q)not remember Me
[k]Nor (R)give Me a thought?
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,
And they will not benefit you.
13 When you cry out, (U)let your collection of idols save you.
But the wind will carry them all up,
And a breath will take them away.
But the one who (V)takes refuge in Me will (W)inherit the land
And (X)possess My holy mountain.”

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 57:3 As in ancient versions; MT she prostitutes herself
  2. Isaiah 57:5 Or wadis
  3. Isaiah 57:6 I.e., symbols of fertility gods
  4. Isaiah 57:6 Or wadi
  5. Isaiah 57:6 Lit they, they
  6. Isaiah 57:6 Or repent
  7. Isaiah 57:8 Lit hand
  8. Isaiah 57:9 I.e., the netherworld
  9. Isaiah 57:10 Lit the life of your hand
  10. Isaiah 57:10 Or become sick
  11. Isaiah 57:11 Lit You did not set it upon your heart

Accusations against idolators

Come here, you children of sorcery,
    offspring of adultery and prostitution!
Whom are you mocking?
    Against whom do you open your mouth wide
    and stick out your tongue?
Aren’t you children of rebellion, offspring of lies,
    who console yourselves with idols under every green tree,
    who slaughter children in the valleys, under the rocky cliffs?
You belong with the smooth talkers[a] in the valley;
    they, they are your lot.
For them you poured out a drink offering,
    and presented a grain offering.
    Should I condone these things?
On a very high mountain you made your bed.
    You went up there to offer a sacrifice.
Behind the door and the doorpost
    you placed your symbols.
You abandoned me and lay down,
    making room in your bed
    and making deals for yourself with them.[b]
You loved their bed;
    you saw their nakedness.
You went down to Molech[c] with oil,
    and you slathered on your ointments;
    you sent your messengers far away,
    sent them down to the underworld.[d]
10 Worn out by all your efforts,
    yet you wouldn’t say, “This is useless.”
You found new strength;
    therefore, you weren’t tired.
11 Whom did you dread and fear so that you lied,
    didn’t remember me or give me a thought?
Isn’t it because I was silent and closed my eyes
    that you stopped fearing me?
12 I will bring evidence about your righteousness and your actions;
    they won’t help you.
13 When you cry out,
    let those things you’ve gathered save you!
The wind will lift them all;
    one breath will take them away.
but those taking refuge in me will inherit the land and possess my holy mountain.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 57:6 Or smooth things
  2. Isaiah 57:8 Heb uncertain
  3. Isaiah 57:9 Or the king
  4. Isaiah 57:9 Heb Sheol