“But you—come here, you children of a sorceress,(A)
    you offspring of adulterers(B) and prostitutes!(C)
Who are you mocking?
    At whom do you sneer
    and stick out your tongue?
Are you not a brood of rebels,(D)
    the offspring of liars?
You burn with lust among the oaks(E)
    and under every spreading tree;(F)
you sacrifice your children(G) in the ravines
    and under the overhanging crags.
The idols(H) among the smooth stones of the ravines are your portion;
    indeed, they are your lot.
Yes, to them you have poured out drink offerings(I)
    and offered grain offerings.
    In view of all this, should I relent?(J)
You have made your bed on a high and lofty hill;(K)
    there you went up to offer your sacrifices.(L)
Behind your doors and your doorposts
    you have put your pagan symbols.
Forsaking me, you uncovered your bed,
    you climbed into it and opened it wide;
you made a pact with those whose beds you love,(M)
    and you looked with lust on their naked bodies.(N)
You went to Molek[a](O) with olive oil
    and increased your perfumes.(P)
You sent your ambassadors[b](Q) far away;
    you descended to the very realm of the dead!(R)
10 You wearied(S) yourself by such going about,
    but you would not say, ‘It is hopeless.’(T)
You found renewal of your strength,(U)
    and so you did not faint.

11 “Whom have you so dreaded and feared(V)
    that you have not been true to me,
and have neither remembered(W) me
    nor taken this to heart?(X)
Is it not because I have long been silent(Y)
    that you do not fear me?
12 I will expose your righteousness and your works,(Z)
    and they will not benefit you.
13 When you cry out(AA) for help,
    let your collection of idols save(AB) you!
The wind will carry all of them off,
    a mere breath will blow(AC) them away.
But whoever takes refuge(AD) in me
    will inherit the land(AE)
    and possess my holy mountain.”(AF)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 57:9 Or to the king
  2. Isaiah 57:9 Or idols

But you, draw near,
    sons of the sorceress,
    (A)offspring of the adulterer and the loose woman.
Whom are you mocking?
    Against whom (B)do you open your mouth wide
    and stick out your tongue?
Are you not children of (C)transgression,
    (D)the offspring of deceit,
you who burn with lust among (E)the oaks,[a]
    under every green tree,
(F)who slaughter your children in the valleys,
    under the clefts of the rocks?
Among the smooth stones of (G)the valley is your portion;
    they, they, are your lot;
to them you have poured out a drink offering,
    you have brought a grain offering.
    Shall I relent for these things?
(H)On a high and lofty mountain
    you have set your bed,
    and there you went up to offer sacrifice.
Behind the door and the doorpost
    you have set up your memorial;
for, deserting me, (I)you have uncovered your bed,
    you have gone up to it,
    (J)you have made it wide;
and you have made a covenant for yourself with them,
    you have loved their bed,
    you have looked on nakedness.[b]
You journeyed to the king with oil
    and multiplied your perfumes;
(K)you sent your envoys far off,
    and sent down even to Sheol.
10 You were wearied with the length of your way,
    (L)but you did not say, “It is hopeless”;
you found new life for your strength,
    and so you were not faint.[c]

11 (M)Whom did you dread and fear,
    (N)so that you lied,
and did not remember me,
    did not lay it to heart?
(O)Have I not held my peace, even for a long time,
    and you do not fear me?
12 I will declare your righteousness and your deeds,
    but they will not profit you.
13 (P)When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you!
    The wind will carry them all off,
    a breath will take them away.
(Q)But he who takes refuge in me shall possess the land
    and shall inherit (R)my holy mountain.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 57:5 Or among the terebinths
  2. Isaiah 57:8 Or on a monument (see 56:5); Hebrew on a hand
  3. Isaiah 57:10 Hebrew and so you were not sick