Pagan Religion Denounced

But come here,
you sons of a sorceress,
offspring of an adulterer and a prostitute![a]
Who is it you are mocking?
Who is it you are opening your mouth
and sticking out your tongue at?
Isn’t it you, you rebellious children,(A)
you race 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 couriers far away(F)
and sent them down even to Sheol.
10 You became weary on your many journeys,
but you did not say, “I give up!”(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?
Have I not kept silent for such a long time[f](H)
and you do not fear Me?
12 I will expose your righteousness,
and your works—they will not profit you.
13 When you cry out,
let your collection of idols deliver 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. Isaiah 57:3 Lit and she acted as a prostitute
  2. Isaiah 57:8 Lit you cut
  3. Isaiah 57:8 Lit hand
  4. Isaiah 57:8 In Hb, the word hand is probably a euphemism for “genitals.”
  5. Isaiah 57:10 Lit found life of your hand
  6. Isaiah 57:11 LXX reads And I, when I see you, I pass by

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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Notas al pie

  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