Pagan Religion Denounced

But come here,
you witch’s sons,
offspring of an adulterer and a prostitute![a]
Who are you mocking?
Who are you opening your mouth
and sticking out your tongue at?
Isn’t it you, you rebellious children,(A)
you offspring of liars,
who burn with lust among the oaks,
under every green tree,(B)
who slaughter children in the wadis
below the clefts of the rocks?(C)
Your portion is among the smooth stones of the wadi;
indeed, they are your lot.
You have even poured out a drink offering to them;
you have offered a grain offering;
should I be satisfied with these?
You have placed your bed
on a high and lofty mountain;(D)
you also went up there to offer sacrifice.
You have set up your memorial
behind the door and doorpost.
For away from me, you stripped,
went up, and made your bed wide,(E)
and you have made a bargain[b] for yourself with them.
You have loved their bed;
you have gazed on their genitals.[c][d]
You went to the king with oil
and multiplied your perfumes;
you sent your envoys far away(F)
and sent them down even to Sheol.
10 You became weary on your many journeys,
but you did not say, “It’s hopeless!” (G)
You found a renewal of your strength;[e]
therefore you did not grow weak.
11 Who was it you dreaded and feared,
so that you lied and didn’t remember me
or take it to heart?
I have kept silent for a long time, haven’t I?[f](H)
So you do not fear me.
12 I will announce your righteousness,
and your works—they will not profit you.

13 When you cry out,
let your collection of idols rescue you!
The wind will carry all of them off,
a breath will take them away.
But whoever takes refuge in me
will inherit the land(I)
and possess my holy mountain.(J)

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Notas al pie

  1. 57:3 Lit and she acted as a prostitute
  2. 57:8 Lit you cut
  3. 57:8 Lit hand
  4. 57:8 In Hb, the word “hand” is probably a euphemism for genitals.
  5. 57:10 Lit found life of your hand
  6. 57:11 LXX reads And I, when I see you, I pass by

But as for you, come here,
    you children of a sorceress,
    you offspring of an adulterer and a prostitute.[a](A)
Whom are you mocking?
    Against whom do you open your mouth wide
    and stick out your tongue?
Are you not children of transgression,
    the offspring of deceit—(B)
you who burn with lust among the oaks,
    under every green tree;
you who slaughter your children in the valleys,
    under the clefts of the rocks?(C)
Among the smooth stones of the valley is your portion;
    it is they who are your lot;
to them you have poured out a drink offering;
    you have brought a grain offering.
    Should these acts cause me to relent?(D)
Upon a high and lofty mountain
    you have set your bed,
    and there you went up to offer sacrifice.(E)
Behind the door and the doorpost
    you have set up your symbol,
for in deserting me[b] you have uncovered your bed;
    you have gone up to it;
    you have made it wide;
and you have made a bargain for yourself with them;
    you have loved their bed;
    you have gazed on their nakedness.[c](F)
You journeyed to Molech[d] with oil
    and multiplied your perfumes;
you sent your envoys far away
    and sent them down to Sheol.(G)
10 You grew weary from your many wanderings,
    but you did not say, “It is no use!”
You found your desire rekindled,
    and so you did not weaken.(H)

11 Whom did you dread and fear
    so that you lied
and did not remember me
    or give me a thought?
Have I not kept silent and closed my eyes,[e]
    and so you do not fear me?(I)
12 I will announce your verdict,
    and the objects you made will not help you.
13 When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you!
    The wind will carry them off;
    a breath will take them away.
But whoever takes refuge in me shall possess the land
    and inherit my holy mountain.(J)

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Notas al pie

  1. 57.3 Heb an adulterer and she prostitutes herself
  2. 57.8 Meaning of Heb uncertain
  3. 57.8 Or phallus; Heb hand
  4. 57.9 Or the king
  5. 57.11 Gk Vg: Heb silent even for a long time